Structural and luminescent properties of YOF:Eu~(3+) nanocrystals embedded glass-ceramics derived by Spark Plasma Sintering

摘要

Luminescent silica-based glass-ceramics (GCs) embedded with YOF:Eu3+ nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering at a relatively low temperature (980 degrees 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 D-5(0)- F-7(j) transitions of Eu3+, upon excitation of 393 nm. Additionally, a small PL intensity ratio of D-5(0)- F-7(2)/D-5(0)- F-7(1) 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.