Recrystallization of Er3+:CaF2 in Transparent Fluorophosphate Glass-Ceramics with the Co-Firing Method.

Transparent glass-ceramics containing Er³⁺:CaF₂ crystallites were prepared with the co-firing method. The formation process of the glass-ceramics was investigated by means of SEM, XRD, and DSC. The results reveal that the Er³⁺:CaF₂ nanocrystals do not dissolve into the fluorophosphates ( FP) glassmelt until the co-firing temperature increase higher than about 920°C. Below this temperature, Er³⁺:CaF₂ survives the co-firing process and the nanocrystals just grow to spherical crystals of micrometers in size. Co-firing temperature higher than this temperature leads to the dissolution of Er³⁺:CaF₂ and the dissolved Er³⁺:CaF₂ recrystallized during quenching process and takes the shape of dendrite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]