Upconversion luminescence of a transparent glass ceramics with hexagonal Na(Gd,Lu)F4 nanocrystals

Abstract

Novel Er3+ doped transparent glass ceramics containing hexagonal Na(Gd,Lu)F4 nanocrystals were prepared from oxyfluoride glasses. The distribution of rare earth ions in the crystalline and glassy phase has been analyzed by X-ray diffraction and erbium luminescence decay kinetics measurement. A strong deviation of rare earth ion content in fluoride nanocrystals in comparison to the base glass has been observed. Preferential incorporation of Gd3+ over Lu3+ ions in the fluoride lattice leads to the stabilization of hexagonal Na(Gd,Lu)F4 structure and prevents the formation of cubic fluorite type solid solutions. A considerable enhancement of upconversion luminescence correlates with the formation of hexagonal solid solutions and is attributed to an efficient energy transfer between Er3+ ions. --//-- This is the accepted version of the following article: G. Krieke, A. Sarakovskis, M. Springis, Upconversion luminescence of a transparent glass ceramics with hexagonal Na(Gd,Lu)F4 nanocrystals, Journal of Alloys and Compounds (2016), which has been published in final form at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925838816332820?via%3Dihub. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Elsevier Terms and Conditions for Sharing and Self-Archiving.