Synthesis and Characterization of Eu³⁺ Doped CaO-Nb₂O₅-SiO₂ Glass-Ceramics

Abstract

The glass-ceramics containing nanocrystalline CaNb2O6phase in the 35%SiO2-25%Nb2O5-20%CaO-15BaO-5%Eu2O3(wt%) glass system were prepared by the melt-quench technique followed by a two-stage controlled heat treatment. Samples were characterized by differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, spectrophotometer and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The results shown that glass ceramic phase is CaNb2O6, grain size is about 30 nm, The two-stage controlled heat treatment is beneficial to control of the number and size of grains, thus affecting the transparency of glass ceramic and luminescence properties. The transmittance of the glass ceramics can be up to 80% in the near-infrared light area. The luminescence spectra of Eu3+-doped glass and glass–ceramics were recorded at 394 nm excitation wavelength and the luminescence intensity is found to be increased with heat-treatment time due to increase in crystallinity. Fluorescence spectrum showed 4 emission peak, which located in the 578 nm (5D0-7F0), 592 nm (5D0-7F1), 615 nm (5D0-7F2) and 654 nm (5D0-7F3), Eu3 +emission peak intensity in the glass ceramic sample were greater than the substrate glass.