Frequency-conversion properties of Eu 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.