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New synthesis method for single crystals containing rare-earth ions from supercooled liquids for photonics

Abstract

Recently, through studies aimed at synthesizing luminescent materials for photonics, we came across some glass compositions, particularly those based on heavy metal oxides which, when doped with appropriate amounts of rare earth ions, these compositions exhibit phase separation at high temperatures, leading to the formation of TR¿X¿O¿¿ garnet-type single crystals or TRPO4, where TR corresponds to rare earth ions and X to Ga, Al or Fe. The methodology for obtaining such crystals differs from the one known for several decades, which enables the production of glass-ceramics where the crystalline phase can range from the nanometric to the millimetric scale. This new approach is based on the controlled cooling of supersaturated glass solutions obtained at high temperatures (above 1200 °C). It allows the formation of cubic crystals on a micrometric scale. Such crystals have a wide range of potential applications, including scintillators (even those with persistent emission), materials for white light emission, magneto-optical materials, laser crystals, and more. The methodology proposed here was entirely developed in our laboratory and has been yielding extraordinary results. However, a systematic and deeper study is necessary to understand the processes leading to the formation of such specific structures.Thus, with this project, we aim to advance the understanding of crystallization mechanisms and explore various application possibilities in photonics for the synthesized crystals and finally, to develop the methodology towards a large-scale production of the crystals. (AU)

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VEICULO: TITULO (DATA)
VEICULO: TITULO (DATA)