Spectroscopic properties of Nd3+-doped transparent glass ceramic containing Sr5(PO4)3F nanocrystals

A Nd3+-doped transparent oxyfluoride glass ceramic containing Sr-5(PO4)(3)F nanocrystals was prepared by melt quenching technique and subsequent thermal treatment. The phase and morphology of Sr-5(PO4)(3)F nanocrystals were investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The volume fraction of Sr-5(PO4)(3)F nanocrystals in the glass ceramic is about 12% and the fraction of Nd3+ ions incorporated in the Sr-5(PO4)(3)F nanocrystals is about 15%. The peak absorption cross-section increases to 145% at 806 nm and the full width at half maximum for the band around 806 nm decreases from 12.5 to 11 nm after the crystallization process. The 1059 nm peak stimulated emission cross-section increases from 2.27 x 10(-20) to 3.07 x 10(-20) cm(2) and the effective width for this band decreases from 35 to 30 nm after the crystallization process. The improvement of spectroscopic properties indicates that the glass ceramic is potentially applicable as a 1.06 mu m laser material. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.