Enhanced up-conversion in Er3+-doped transparent glass-ceramics containing NaYbF4 nanocrystals

Highly transparent Er3+ doped oxyfluoride glass-ceramics containing cubic NaYbF4 nanocrystals were fabricated in an aluminosilicate matrix by melt-quenching technique. Their structural properties, optical properties and enhanced up-conversion behaviors were systemically investigated by XRD, TEM, HRTEM techniques and absorption, up-conversion spectra. Excited by 980 nm laser, samples present characteristic emissions of Er3+. Compared with precursor glasses, the intensity of red emission increases by 15 times for GC650 after crystallization. Our work indicates that transparent NaYbF4 glass-ceramics may be used as potential host for up-conversion.