Abstract
abstract This paper presents the optical characteristics of Nd 3+ silicate glass (SiO 2 –B 2 O 3 –PbO), synthesized bythe fusion method. Two sets of samples were prepared: glass and corresponding glass ceramics. Opticalabsorption, luminescence, Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurementswere performed in order to determine the structural properties of the systems and the radiativecharacteristics of Nd 3+ ions. Near infrared luminescence exhibited typical Nd 3+ bands. Raman and AFMmeasurements indicated nanocrystal growth with thermal treatment of the glass ceramics. Judd–Ofeltcalculations also confirmed that heat treatment induced structural rearrangement of the samples thatwas dependent on Nd 2 O 3 concentration. This resulted in changes in the optical and physical propertiesof the samples, including stimulated emission cross section and rigidity.& 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. IntroductionThe optical properties of rare-earth-doped dielectric solidshave been extensively investigated [1–4]. In particular, the useof rare-earth (RE) ions emitting in the optical-fiber spectral rangehas attracted considerable interest in luminescent material appli-cations [5,6]. Due to their potential applications in efficient lasingand frequency upconversion processes, the investigation of opti-mized doped systems merits substantial effort. In this respect,one successful approach is to obtain glass ceramics by controlledheat treatment of glass precursors. It has been demonstrated thatthis procedure improves the mechanical, thermal, electrical andoptical properties of a system. In this way, glass ceramics combinethe mechanical and optical properties of glass with the crystal-like environment of rare earth ions. The composite materialallows control of the chemical environment of the RE ion andreduces clustering and consequent luminescence quenching.SiO
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