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Abstract: In this work, silica powders and transparent glass‐ceramic materials containing LaF3:Eu3+ nanocrystals were synthesized using the low‐temperature sol‐gel technique. Prepared samples were characterized by TG/DSC analysis as well as X‐ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy. The transformation from liquid sols toward bulk powders and xerogels was also examined and analyzed. The optical behavior of prepared Eu3+‐doped sol‐gel samples were evaluated based on photoluminescence excitation (PLE: λem = 611 nm) and emission (PL: λexc = 393 nm, λexc = 397 nm) spectra as well as luminescence decay analysis. The series of luminescence lines located within reddish‐orange spectral scope were registered and identified as the intra‐configurational 4f6‐4f6 transitions originated from Eu3+ optically active ions (5D0 → 7FJ, J = 0‐4). Moreover, the R/O‐ratio was also calculated to estimate the symmetry in local framework around Eu3+ ions. The luminescence spectra and double‐exponential character of decay curves recorded for fabricated nanocrystalline sol‐gel samples (τ1(5D0) = 2.07 ms, τ2(5D0) = 8.07 ms and τ1(5D0) = 0.79 ms, τ2(5D0) = 9.76 ms for powders and glass‐ceramics, respectively) indicated the successful migration of optically active Eu3+ ions from amorphous silica framework to low phonon energy LaF3 nanocrystal phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare-earth-doped oxyfluoride germanate and borate glasses were synthesized and next studied using spectroscopic methods. Influence of fluoride modifier on luminescence properties of rare earths in different glass hosts was examined. The excitation and emission spectra of Pr3+ and Er3+ ions in the studied glasses were registered. The emission spectra of Pr3+ ions in germanate and borate glasses are quite different and depend strongly on the glass host. In samples doped with Er3+ ions emission bands located around 1530 nm corresponding to the main 4I13/2→4I15/2 laser transition were registered, independently of the glass host. Quite long-lived near-infrared luminescence of Er3+ ions was observed for germanate glasses with low BaF2 content, while in borate glass systems influence of barium fluoride on luminescence lifetimes is not so evident. The Judd-Ofelt calculations were used in order to determine quantum efficiencies of excited states of rare-earth ions in germanate and borate glasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]