Growth, structure and spectroscopic characterization of Nd3+-doped KBaGd(WO4)3 crystal with a disordered structure.

The undoped and the Nd(3+):KBaGd(WO(4))(3) crystals were grown by the top seeded solution growth (TSSG) method from a flux of K(2)W(2)O(7). The structure of the pure crystal was determined by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. It crystallizes in the monoclinic symmetry with space group C2/c. In the structure, K(+) and Ba(2+) ions share the same 8f site with occupancy of 0.464 and 0.536, respectively. The investigation of spectral properties of Nd(3+):KBaGd(WO(4))(3) crystal indicates that it exhibits broad absorption and emission bands, which are attributed to locally disordered environments around the Nd(3+) centers. The broad absorption band is suitable for diode laser pumping.