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 Lu₄Zr₃O₁₂ 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 Lu₄Zr₃O₁₂ nanocrystals upon thermal treatment. Absorption, emission and excitation-wavelength dependent emission spectra confirmed that Er³⁺ ions were incorporated into Lu₄Zr₃O₁₂ nanocrystals. Green up-conversion emission was observed from these Er³⁺:Lu₄Zr₃O₁₂ nanocrystals doped glasses, and the temperature-dependent up-conversion emission showed that the Er³⁺:Lu₄Zr₃O₁₂ nanocrystals doped glasses had potential for low-temperature optical thermometry.