The luminescence of the lanarkites Pb2OSO4, Pb2OMoO4, Pb2OS0.97Mo0.03O
4 and of PbO is reported. These systems have a common structural featu
re that they contain one-dimensional chains. It has been observed that
in these compounds only at low temperatures Pb2+ emission may be foun
d. Excitation results mainly in the formation of mobile electron-hole
pairs, which can recombine radiatively at disconnecting sites in the c
hains. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd