Vol. 35, Issue 4, pp. 851-858 (2005)
Keywords
nanocrystallization, oxyfluoride glasses, lanthanum fluoride, upconversion
Abstract
The paper presents new glass-ceramics as a material for up-conversion luminescence. Formation of the LaF3 nanocrystals have been obtained as a low phonon host for rare earth active ions in oxide glassy matrix. The thermal conditions of LaF3 nanocrystallization in the glass from the SiO2–Al2O3–Na2O–LaF3 system have been presented. Transmittance and luminescence properties as a function of heat treatment have been investigated. The effect of incoming of Er3+ in LaF3 crystals has been shown on the luminescence properties. AFM results have confirmed the growth of nano-scale crystals.