title: Synthesis, X-ray diffraction characterization, and radiative properties of Er(2)O(3)-ZrO(2) nanocrystals embedded in LAS glass ceramic.
abstract: Low thermal expansion Li(2)O-Al(2)O(3)-SiO(2) (LAS) glass ceramic was examined as a host matrix for erbium ions. ZrO(2) was added to the glass since it serves as a nucleating agent and as a good environment for the luminescent ions. The study was carried out on amorphous powders of the Li(2)O-Al(2)O(3)-SiO(2)/ZrO(2)/Er(2)O(3) system prepared by the sol-gel method and successively crystallized at different temperatures. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy were employed to study the evolution of the crystalline phases and the distribution of the erbium ions. The TEM micrographs confirmed that, after thermal treatment at 1000 degrees C, the crystallization of nanoparticles constituted by an Er(2)O(3)-ZrO(2) solid solution with narrow size distribution could be achieved. On the contrary, erbium silicate was detected in the samples without ZrO(2). The repartition constant of Er(2)O(3) between ZrO(2) and LAS matrix has been also evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica Fisica, Università di Venezia Ca' Foscari, Via Torino 155b, 30170 Venezia-Mestre, Italy. riellop@unive.it
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Riello
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bucella
authors.forename: Radenka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krsmanoviĉ
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meneghetti
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pietrantoni
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Francini