Broadband infrared luminescence from transparent glass–ceramics containing Ni2+-doped β -Ga2O3 nanocrystals

Abstract

Transparent Ni2+-doped β-Ga2O3 glass–ceramics were synthesized. The nanocrystal phase in the glass–ceramics was identified to be β-Ga2O3 and its size was about 3.6 nm. It was confirmed from the absorption spectra that the ligand environment of Ni2+ ions changed from the trigonal bi-pyramid fivefold sites in the as-cast glass to the octahedral sites in the glass–ceramics. The broadband infrared emission centering at 1270 nm with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of more than 250 nm was observed. The fluorescence lifetime was about 1.1 μs at room temperature. The observed infrared emission could be attributed to the 3T2g (3F )→3A2g (3F ) transition of octahedral Ni2+ ions. It is suggested that the Ni2+-doped transparent β-Ga2O3 glass–ceramics with broad bandwidth and long lifetime have a potential as a broadband amplification medium.