Nanocrystal formation using laser irradiation on Nd3+ doped barium titanium silicate glasses

Two different thermal treatments were used to create nanocrystals from a precursor glass. The glass whose composition is Ba2TiSi2O8 and doped with 3% of Nd3+ was prepared using the melt quenching method. A conventional thermal treatment in an electrical furnace was used to obtain transparent glass ceramic samples, which contain Fresnoite nanocrystals with an average size of 35 nm. Moreover, these nanocrystals were obtained in a localized area of the precursor glass by irradiating with a continuous Ar+ laser. Evidence of the changes induced by laser irradiation was confirmed by optical spectroscopic, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron and atomic force microscopy.

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► We compare two methods to produce glass–ceramic, furnace and laser irradiation.
► We study the spectroscopic properties of the glass ceramic created by both methods.
► A spectral mapping shows the area converted from glass to glass–ceramic by the laser.
► XRD, electronic microscopy and AFM confirm the spectral mapping conclusions.