Structural and luminescent properties of YOF:Eu3+ nanocrystals embedded glass-ceramics derived by Spark Plasma Sintering

• Published in: Optical materials Vol. 118; p. 111247
• Main Authors: Zhou, Beiying, Du, Hui, Luo, Peili, Ye, Jiayi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2021
• Subjects: Luminescent glass ceramics; Spark Plasma Sintering; YOF:Eu3+ nanocrystals; Spark Plasma Sintering; Luminescent glass ceramics; YOF:Eu3+ nanocrystals
• ISSN: 0925-3467; 1873-1252
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2021.111247

Luminescent silica-based glass-ceramics (GCs) embedded with YOF:Eu3+ nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering at a relatively low temperature (980 °C) within 10 min. XRD data and TEM images clearly confirmed the presence of highly crystallized tetragonal YOF:Eu3+ NCs in the amorphous silica glass matrix without obviously interfacial reaction. The GC samples showed typical intense reddish-orange emission, which can be ascribed to the 5D0→7Fj transitions of Eu3+, upon excitation of 393 nm. Additionally, a small PL intensity ratio of 5D0→7F2/5D0→7F1 revealed that majority of Eu3+ ions are well retained in YOF NCs after sintering, which was further verified by the Judd-Ofelt parameters. The lifetime of GC sample was well fitted by a single exponential function and calculated to be 1.086 ms, which was similar to that of as-synthesized YOF:Eu3+ NCs (1.104 ms). Hence, these results demonstrated that YOF:Eu3+ NCs were well protected via this fabrication method of GC composites, guaranteeing high optical performance. •Rapid sintering (within 10 min) at a relatively low temperature (980 °C) , no melting process.•The YOF:Eu3+ nanocrystals were homogeneously dispersed in the glass matrix without interfacial reactions.•The prepared YOF:Eu3+ nanocrystals embedded glass exhibited intense reddish-orange emitting and long lifetime of 1.086 ms.•MMajority of Eu3+ ions were well protected and resided in YOF low phonon crystal in composite glass.