High-entropy transparent fluoride laser ceramics

For the first time, a transparent high-entropy fluoride laser ceramic has been prepared and characterized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of a CeNdCaSrBaF12 (CNCSBF) transparent ceramic consolidated by vacuum hot pressing (VHP) reveals that Ce3+, Nd3+, Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+ have formed a single-phased fluorite solid solution, with a lattice constant of 5.826 angstrom. Bulk density measurements produced a value of 6.15 g/cm(3). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the ceramic revealed a uniform distribution of grain sizes in the material, with the average grain size being approximately 20 mu m. The material exhibits a maximum in-line transmittance of approximately 60% at 1000 nm. A near-infrared range photoluminescence (PL) emission band was observed at 1057 nm, with a visible-range PL emission band being located at 440 nm.