Study of fluorine losses and spectroscopic properties of Er3+ doped oxyfluoride silicate glasses and glass ceramics

The fluorine losses during synthesis of Er3+ doped transparent glasses in the SiO2–PbO–PbF2 system were investigated. The final fluorine contents of the glasses were detected by using a fluorine ion selective electrode. The results show that high fluorine losses are occured in the normal preparation processes. With the increase of initial PbF2 contents or melting time resulted in the increase of the fluorine losses. The thermal and spectroscopic properties of the glasses and the corresponding glass ceramics were investigated through the analysis of the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), absorption and upconversion luminescence spectra. The effects of fluorine contents show a decrease of the glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the glasses and an enhancement of upconversion intensity of the corresponding glass ceramics.