Optical Active Nano-Glass-Ceramics

This paper reviews the synthesis and characterization of several transparent glass-ceramics with optical active nanocrystals. Glass-ceramics containing ferroelectric SrxBa1-xNb2O6 nanocrystals with an ellipsoidal shape show optical phase modulations in the presence of alternative electric fields. In the glass-ceramics with Ba2TiSi2O8 (BTS) nanocrystals, BTS crystalline layers with a thickness of approximately 120nm are formed at the surface and ellipsoidal-shaped crystallites with a diameter of 100-200nm are dispersed in the glass matrix. Some TeO2-based and GeO2-based glasses show a prominent nanocrystallization. RE-doped CaF2 nanocrystals are patterned in a spatially selected region by laser irradiations. The size, morphology, and dispersion state of nanocrystals should be carefully checked in each glass system and composition. The basic concept for the design of glass system and composition is also discussed. Some data on optical active performances in transparent glass-ceramics with nanocrystals were introduced.