Preparation and spectral properties of Nd3+-doped transparent glass ceramic containing Ca5(PO4)3F nanocrystals

Apatite Glass-Ceramics: A Review

“…Such glasses and glass-ceramics are used for applications in solid-state lasers, optical amplifiers, and display screens. Glasses doped with rare earth elements usually exhibit broader spectral bands and smaller absorption and reemission characteristics as compared to glass-ceramics, which are more efficient and show higher absorption and re-emission characteristic in addition to narrower spectral bands (Zhang et al, 2012(Zhang et al, , 2013a. (Zhang et al (2012(Zhang et al ( , 2013a).…”

“…Consequently, nanocrystalline FAp GCs are of particular interest. Zhang et al (2012Zhang et al ( , 2013a developed Nd and Eu-doped visually transparent FAp glass-ceramics (Table 8) for potential applications in optical amplifiers. Nd and Eu ions are f-block elements and can exhibit high degree of up-conversion in appropriate crystal lattices; therefore, they are highly attractive dopants in rare earth accommodating lattices, such as the apatite.…”

“…Nd and Eu ions are f-block elements and can exhibit high degree of up-conversion in appropriate crystal lattices; therefore, they are highly attractive dopants in rare earth accommodating lattices, such as the apatite. Zhang et al (2012Zhang et al ( , 2013a systems crystallize to FAp and mullite; therefore, careful control of the heat treatment is crucial to avoid the crystallization of the mullite phase.…”

“…Furthermore, although Zhang et al (2013b) systems contain strong nucleants, such as P2O5, comparing DSC traces of doped and undoped ZH3 versions, less pronounced FAp exotherms observed with Nd doped GC may be attributed to enhanced heterogenous nucleation mechanism, as opposed to reduced overall crystallization; however, such explanation would have to be confirmed by analyzing particle size dependence on the crystallization temperature. Notably, Zhang et al (2012) system (ZH1 , Table 8) could remain optically clear after 24-h heat treatment at 790°C. This indicates that Zhang et al (2012) system has undergone LLPS on a nanoscale, which therefore restricts FAp growth beyond the LLPS domain.…”

“…This indicates that Zhang et al (2012) system has undergone LLPS on a nanoscale, which therefore restricts FAp growth beyond the LLPS domain. Additionally, the kinetic barrier to OR during heat treatment is, therefore, not overcome in Zhang et al (2012Zhang et al ( , 2013a systems, which prevents crystal growth into the light scattering dimensions.…”