Investigation on Crystallization and Optical Properties of Ca1−xLaxF2+x Glass‐Ceramics. Issue 3 (4th February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Imanieh, Mohammad H.; Martín, Inocencio R.; Yekta, Bijan Eftekhari; Gonzalez‐Platas, Javier; Creus, Alberto Hernández; Pinckney, L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Ceramic Society. Volume 97:Issue 3(2014)
• Page Start: 782
• Page End: 788
• Publication Date: 2014-02-04
• Subjects: Ceramics -- Periodicals; 620.1405
• DOI: 10.1111/jace.12816
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-7820

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jace12816-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Transparent oxyfluoride glass‐ceramics containing Er<sup>3+</sup>, Yb<sup>3+</sup>:Ca<sub>1<italic>−x</italic></sub>La<sub><italic>x</italic></sub>F<sub>2<italic>+x</italic></sub> nanocrystals, which may have potential applications in the fields of solid‐state laser and luminescence, were prepared. Crystallization of Ca<sub>1<italic>−x</italic></sub>La<sub><italic>x</italic></sub>F<sub>2<italic>+x</italic></sub> and behavior of Yb<sup>3+</sup> and Er<sup>3+</sup> during the heat treatment was investigated. Results showed that alumina content had a significant effect on crystallization of Ca<sub>1<italic>−x</italic></sub>La<sub><italic>x</italic></sub>F<sub>2<italic>+x</italic></sub> in the SiO<sub>2</sub>–Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>–CaF<sub>2</sub>–LaF<sub>3</sub> system. Due to the size of phase‐separated areas, the size of the crystals during the heat treatment did not change significantly. After crystallization of Ca<sub>1<italic>−x</italic></sub>La<sub><italic>x</italic></sub>F<sub>2<italic>+x</italic></sub> in the glass, the majority of Er<sup>3+</sup> ions incorporated into the Ca<sub>1<italic>−x</italic></sub>La<sub><italic>x</italic></sub>F<sub>2<italic>+x</italic></sub> crystals during the heat‐treatment process. Time‐resolved luminescence of Er<sup>3+</sup> ions in the samples around 842 nm showed that the solubility of Er<sup>3+</sup> ions in Ca<sub>1<italic>−x</italic></sub>La<sub><italic>x</italic></sub>F<sub>3</sub> crystals is higher than pure CaF<sub>2</sub> crystals. The glass undergoes an enormous phase separation, which keeps the Yb<sup>3+</sup> ions within the other separated phase. Therefore, only at high temperatures (790°C) or with a long heat‐treatment time (72 h), there is a possibility for Yb<sup>3+</sup> ions to be incorporated into the fluorine phase.</p> </abstract>