New transparent glass-ceramics containing large grain Eu3+:CaF2 nanocrystals

Transparent glass-ceramics containing Eu3+ doped CaF2 nanocrystals were prepared. The microstructural evolution of the samples was studied with DTA, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). After heat-treatment at 560 degrees C for 10 h, the precipitated CaF2 crystallites in the sample were 60-90 nm in size and dispersed equally in the amorphous phase. The high transparency of glass-ceramics was mainly ascribed to the small difference of refractivity index between CaF2 and the parent glass (n(D) approximate to 0.05). The luminescent properties of parent glass and glass-ceramics were also estimated to confirm the incorporation of Eu3+ into the precipitated CaF2 phase. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.