Toward germanate ceramics Li2AGeO4:Nd3+ (A = Zn, Mg) emitting near-infrared radiation

Germanate ceramics Li2ZnGeO4:Nd3+ and Li2MgGeO4:Nd3+ have been studied for near-infrared (IR) luminescence applications. The phase identification showed that both ceramic compounds crystallized in a monoclinic lattice, characteristic of a broad family of germanate olivines. Near-IR luminescence spectra have been analyzed for Li(2)AGeO(4):Nd3+ (A = Zn, Mg) under different excitation wavelengths. Near-IR emission bands observed in the second biological window correspond to the ceramic host as well as F-4(3/2) -> I-4(11/2) and F-4(3/2) -> I-4(13/2) transitions of Nd3+ ions, respectively. Based on luminescence spectra and their decays, several spectroscopic parameters for un-doped and Nd3+-doped ceramic samples were determined. The experimental results for germanate olivines containing Nd3+ ions suggest that ceramic host gives important contribution to near-IR luminescence at second biological window.