Optical properties of glass–ceramics containing Lu4Zr3O12:Er3+ nanocrystals

Precipitation of functional nanocrystals into glasses can endow many interesting properties to glasses and widen their application fields. In this work, optically active rare-earth ions doped Lu 4 Zr 3 O 12 nanocrystals were precipitated in silicate glasses through conventional melt-quenching and subsequent thermal treatment method. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed the precipitation of Lu 4 Zr 3 O 12 nanocrystals upon thermal treatment. Absorption, emission and excitation-wavelength dependent emission spectra confirmed that Er 3+ ions were incorporated into Lu 4 Zr 3 O 12 nanocrystals. Green up-conversion emission was observed from these Er 3+ :Lu 4 Zr 3 O 12 nanocrystals doped glasses, and the temperature-dependent up-conversion emission showed that the Er 3+ :Lu 4 Zr 3 O 12 nanocrystals doped glasses had potential for low-temperature optical thermometry.