Transparent Nano-Glass-Ceramic for Photonic Applications - Distribution of RE-Doping Elements in the Fluoride Nano-Crystals Analysed by XAS and HR-TEM

Abstract:

Rare-earth (RE) ions-doped oxyfluoride transparent glass-ceramics containing nano-crystalline phases with very low phonon energies like LaF₃, NaLaF₄ and KLaF₄ combine the superior optical performance of low phonon energy phases with the high mechanical, chemical and thermal stability of oxide silicates. The insertion of the doping RE ions in the fluoride nanocrystals enhances the radiative optical emission processes currently focused on up- and down-conversion emissions. Thus, a key point is to identify and quantify the RE ions in the fluoride nano-crystals. In this contribution an oxyfluoride glass and the corresponding glass-ceramics of composition 55 SiO₂. 20 Al₂O₃.15 Na₂O.10 LaF₃ mol % doped with 1 mol % Tm₂O₃ is presented. The Tm³⁺ incorporation in the precipitated LaF₃ nano-crystals has been analysed by two different techniques. Firstly, TEM and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDXS) were used to perform elemental distribution mappings of RE elements that allow to directly localising RE ions in the glass and glass-ceramics. Additionally, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements were performed to analyse the distribution and first coordination sphere of Tm³⁺ ions in the glass and glass–ceramics by using X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) and extended absorption X-ray fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS), which have allow to quantify the Tm³⁺ incorporation in the LaF₃ nano-crystals.

• Periodical: Advances in Science and Technology (Volume 90)
• Pages: 111-120
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AST.90.111
• Online since: October 2014
• Authors: Araceli de Pablos-Martín, Maria J. Pascual, Alicia Durán
• Keywords: Crystallisation, Oxyfluoride Glass-Ceramics, RE Ions, TEM-HAADF, Up-Conversion, XAS

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