Elaboration and mid-infrared emission of transparent glass ceramics containing highly crystallized KY3F10:Er3+ nanocrystals

Abstract

Improving optical performance of fluoride-based glass ceramics is still of great importance to laser gain hosts. In this work, cubic KY3F10 nanocrystals (NCs) precipitated from a simple ternary 60SiO2–20YF3–20KF fluorosilicate glass matrix have been obtained. The result of element content shows that fluorine element is largely preserved in the precursor glass, in which obvious spontaneous crystallization of KY3F10 NCs occurs. Subsequent heat-treatment upon the glass samples results in the further formation of KY3F10 NCs, exhibiting a maximum crystallinity of 37.5% in GC760 sample. The mid-infrared emission at 2.7 μm is hence enhanced due to the incorporation of Er3+ ions into the KY3F10 NCs with low phonon energy. The corresponding fluorescence lifetimes are prolonged from 0.37 and 6.69 ms to 7.00 and 9.16 ms for the upper 4I11/2 and lower 4I13/2 levels, respectively, with the increase of heat-treated temperature. Our results may provide reference data and research ideas for exploring ∼3 μm solid laser gain materials.