Preparation and luminescence of transparent silica glass-ceramics containing LaF3:Eu3+ nanocrystals

Silica glass-ceramics containing highly crystalline LaF 3 :Eu 3+ nanocrystals (NCs) were successfully prepared at a relatively low temperature of 950 °C within a short time of 10 min by Spark Plasma Sintering. The LaF 3 :Eu 3+ NCs were not only well retained without interfacial reaction occurring between LaF 3 :Eu 3+ NCs and silica matrix phases, but also homogeneously dispersed in glass matrix. The luminescence peaks located within reddish-orange spectral scope were registered and identified as the intra-configurational 4 f 6 - 4 f 6 transitions originated from Eu 3+ optically active ions ( 5 D 0  →  7 F J , J = 0–4). By adopting the LaF 3 :Eu 3+ glass-ceramic as color convertor, the fabricated LED shows excellent reddish emission.