Abstract
Luminescence signals respond to phase transitions both of the host material and of impurities on the nanoparticle-size scale. During cathodoluminescence spectral measurements of many insulators, strong intensity changes (up to 100 times) have been recorded at ~170 K, which are here ascribed to the phase transitions of water that has diffused into the near-surface regions, or is trapped within the bulk material in nanoparticle quantities. The intensity step correlates with the ice transition between the cubic and hexagonal phases. In many materials there are also weaker features near 230 K which match the low-pressure ice-to-vapour transition. Some signals are apparent in radioluminescence data when the water is within the bulk material. The impurity phase changes can modify the emission spectra of the host. Examples are given for several insulators (Nd:YAG, zircon, MgO:Cr, PbWO4, strontium barium niobate) and a superconductor. The data have implications for quantitative luminescence analyses and underline the significant and influential presence of water contaminants. In many surface layers, such as surface optical waveguides or those of superconductors, the ice may significantly influence the behaviour of the host material.