Transparent Nd3+-doped bismuth titanate glass-ceramic nanocomposites: Fabrication and properties

Nd3+-doped bismuth titanate, (Bi4Ti3O12) (BiT) containing transparent glass-ceramics has been prepared by the melt-quenching followed by heat-treatment in the SiO2-K2O-Bi2O3-TiO2 (SKBT) system. The structural properties of the heat-treated GC are investigated using XRD, FE-SEM, TEM and FT-IR reflectance spectroscopy. The emission intensity of the F-4(3/2)-> I-4(11/2) transition at 1065 nm is enhanced by 9-fold due to entering of Nd3+ ions (r = 0.98 angstrom) into the low-phonon crystalline phase (BiT), possibly by replacing Bi3+ ions (r = 1.02 angstrom) of the same valency. An increase of er value (from 18.5 to 32.93) was observed with increase in heat-treatment time. (C)2014 Optical Society of America