Time-resolved fluorescence line-narrowing of Eu^3+ in biocompatible eutectic glass-ceramics

Abstract

The spectroscopic properties of Eu 3+ in biocompatible glass and glass-ceramic eutectic rods of composition 0.8CaSiO 3-0.2Ca 3 (PO 4) 2 doped with 0.5 wt% of Eu 2 O 3 are investigated to explore their potential applications as optical probes. The samples were obtained by the laser floating zone technique. Depending on the growth rate, they exhibit three (two crystalline and one amorphous) or two (one crystalline and one amorphous) phases. The crystalline phases correspond to Ca 2 SiO 4 and apatite-like structures. At high growth rates the system presents an amorphous arrangement which gives a glass phase. The results of timeresolved fluorescence line narrowing spectroscopy obtained under excitation within the inhomogeneous broadened 7 F 0 → 5 D 0 absorption band allow to isolate the emission from Eu 3+ ions in the crystalline and amorphous environments and to accurately correlate the spectroscopic properties with the microstructure of these eutectics.

Laser Machining and In Vitro Assessment of Wollastonite-Tricalcium Phosphate Eutectic Glasses and Glass-Ceramics

“…A thorough explanation of the microstructure can be found in previous works [21,22]. In summary, the fibres (clear contrast) contained Si, P and Ca, whereas the matrix (dark contrast) was rich in Si and Ca, with low content of P. EDX analyses carried out in this sample confirmed these results, Table 3.…”

“…Since the development of Bioeutectic ® ceramic by De Aza et al in 1997 [11], bioactivity and biocompatibility, both in vitro and in vivo, as well as the optical properties of this binary eutectic composite, have been widely studied [14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25]. …”

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for Monitoring the Formation of Hydroxyapatite Porous Layers

“…In particular, the CaSiO 3 /Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 eutectic composite shows remarkable optical properties. Its spectroscopic properties can be used as optical probes for biomedical applications [17,18,19]. Additionally, optical waveguides inscribed in this eutectic glass by means of the ultrafast laser inscription technique suggested a great potential for being used as integrated photonic devices, optical amplifiers, and laser sources [20,21].…”

Ultrafast direct laser writing of cladding waveguides in the 0.8CaSiO3-0.2Ca3(PO4)2 eutectic glass doped with Nd3+ ions

“…23 Furthermore, it has been shown that its spectroscopic properties could be used as optical probe for biomedical applications. 24,25 II. EXPERIMENTAL…”