Nanocrystals formation on Ho3+ doped strontium barium niobate glass

The study of two different methods to obtain strontium barium niobate nanocrystals immersed in a glass matrix has been carried out. Ho2O3-doped SrO-BaO-Nb2O5-B2O3 glasses were fabricated using the melt quenching method. Glass ceramic samples were obtained from the precursor glass by thermal treatment in a furnace and by laser irradiation. These glass ceramic samples are formed by a glassy phase and a crystalline phase of strontium barium niobate nanocrystals. This structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and Atomic Force Microscope images. The incorporation of Ho3+ ions in the strontium barium niobate nanocrystals were corroborated by optical measurements, which produced an increment in the luminescence intensity compared to the precursor glass. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.