Preparation and spectral properties of Nd3+-doped transparent glass ceramic containing Ca5(PO4)3F nanocrystals

A Nd3+-doped transparent oxyfluoride glass ceramic containing Ca-5(PO4)(3)F nanocrystals was prepared by thermal treatment at the crystallization temperature for the precursor glass. The transmittances of the precursor glass and the glass ceramic with a thickness of about 2 mm are up to 84.7% and 77.4% in the visible range. The volume fraction of Ca-5(PO4)(3)F nanocrystals in the glass ceramic is about 19% and the ingress fraction of Nd3+ ions into the Ca-5(PO4)(3)F nanocrystals is about 32%. The peak absorption cross-section increases to 224% at 807 nm and the full width at half maximum for the 807 nm band decreases from 17.5 to 3.5 nm after the crystallization process. The peak stimulated emission cross-section increases from 1.89 x 10(-20) to 2.42 x 10(-20) cm(2) at 1062 nm and the effective width of the emission line for the 1062 nm band decreases from 34 to 29 nm after the crystallization process. The improvement of spectroscopic properties indicates that the glass ceramic is potentially applicable as the 1.06 mu m laser material. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.