Frequency-conversion properties of Eu3+ doped chlorophosphate glass ceramics containing CaCl2 nanocrystals

Eu3+ ion doped chlorophosphate glass ceramics containing nanocrystals were successfully prepared, and their spectroscopic characterizations were done using absorption, excitation and emission spectra. For the crystallized samples, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments evidenced the formation of CaCl2 nanocrystals. The absorption and emission spectra investigations indicate that a considerable amount of Eu3+ ions was trapped in CaCl2 nanocrystals, and therefore an efficient up- and down-frequency conversion was observed. The comparative spectroscopic studies of Eu3+ doped samples suggest that the investigated glass ceramics systems are potentially applicable as frequency-conversion photonics devices.