Preparation and luminescence of Cr 4+ doped transparent glass ceramics containing dual nanocrystals of Zn 1.7 SiO 4 and Li 1.14 Zn 1.43 SiO 4

Transparent Cr 4+ doped SiO 2 -Al 2 O 3 -ZnO-Li 2 O-K 2 O glass ceramics were prepared by conventional melting method. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that dual nanocrystals of Zn 1.7 SiO 4 and Li 1.14 Zn 1.43 SiO 4 were precipitated in the glass matrix after 700 °C heating treatment. Broad infrared luminescence centered at 1261 nm and 1304 nm with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of more than 250 nm was observed excited by an 808 nm excitation laser diode. And the lifetime was about 145.85 μs at 1261 nm and 179.56 μs at 1304 nm. Compared with Cr 4+ doped SiO 2 -Al 2 O 3 -ZnO-Li 2 O-K 2 O glass ceramics containing single phase of Zn 1.7 SiO 4 or Li 1.14 Zn 1.43 SiO 4 , this novel glass ceramics had wider FWHM and longer lifetime.