Compounds containing Yb3+ ions have potential application as laser devices and they have some advantages over the Nd3+ ion as laser emitting center. There is no cross-relaxation process thus no concentration quenching. In addition, the intense and broad Yb3+ absorption bands are well suited for IR laser diode pumping.
This paper is devoted to the comparison of two different procedures to obtain the new ytterbium doped alkali metal lutetium double phosphates and their characterization. The mentioned compounds were synthesized by solid state reaction and M3PO4 (where M= Na, Rb) and lanthanide phosphates were obtained by two different methods. Thermogravimetry, FT-infrared and absorption spectroscopy were performed to characterize the samples. X-ray diffraction was used to identify different phases. Crystal structure of lutetium double phosphates rubidium salt is isostructural with hexagonal yttrium double phosphates, while lutetium double phosphate sodium salts crystallize in structure a little different that of orthorombic yttrium compound. The absorption, reflection, emission and excitation spectra were measured at room temperature, 77 and 4K in the IR and UV ranges and were compared with the results obtained for samples of the same type containing yttrium instead lutetium in the same matrices. The luminescent spectra of double phosphates were measured with different excitation line, also by using synchrotron radiation. The low temperature absorption spectra in the region of 2F7/2 -> 2F5/2 transition together with the IR spectra were used to assign the vibronic components. Energy levels diagram for excited states in both types of the crystals were proposed.
Moreover, the emission and excitation spectra using synchrotron radiation were investigated and the origin of the emission were described.

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