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Europium (II)-Doped CaF<sub>2</sub> Nanocrystals in Sol-Gel Derived Glass-Ceramic: Luminescence and EPR Spectroscopy Investigations
oleh: Corina Secu, Arpad-Mihai Rostas, Mihail Secu
Format: | Article |
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Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2022-08-01 |
Deskripsi
The remarkable properties of Eu<sup>2+</sup>-activated phosphors, related to the broad and intense luminescence of Eu<sup>2+</sup> ions, showed a high potential for a wide range of optical-related applications. Oxy-fluoride glass-ceramic containing Europium (II)-doped CaF<sub>2</sub> nanocrystals embedded in silica matrix were produced in two steps: glass-ceramization in air at 800° with Eu<sup>3+</sup>-doped CaF<sub>2</sub> nanocrystals embedded followed by Eu<sup>3+</sup> to Eu<sup>2+</sup> reduction during annealing in reducing atmosphere. The broad, blue luminescence band at 425 nm and with the long, weak tail in the visible range is assigned to the d → f type transition of the Eu<sup>2+</sup> located inside the CaF<sub>2</sub> nanocrystals in substitutional and perturbed sites, respectively; the photoluminescence quantum yield was about 0.76. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Electron paramagnetic spectroscopy confirmed the presence of Eu<sup>2+</sup> inside the CaF<sub>2</sub> nanocrystals. Thermoluminescence curves recorded after X-ray irradiation of un-doped and Eu<sup>2+</sup>-doped glass-ceramics showed a single dominant glow peak at 85 °C related to the recombination between F centers and Eu<sup>2+</sup> related hole within the CaF<sub>2</sub> nanocrystals. The applicability of the procedure can be tested to obtain an oxy-fluoride glass-ceramic doped with other divalent ions such as Sm<sup>2+</sup>, Yb<sup>2+</sup>, as nanophosphors for radiation detector or photonics-related applications.