New transparent glass–ceramics containing large grain Eu3+:CaF2 nanocrystals

Transparent glass–ceramics containing Eu3+ doped CaF2 nanocrystals were prepared. The microstructural evolution of the samples was studied with DTA, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). After heat-treatment at 560 °C for 10 h, the precipitated CaF2 crystallites in the sample were 60–90 nm in size and dispersed equally in the amorphous phase. The high transparency of glass– ceramics was mainly ascribed to the small difference of refractivity index between CaF2 and the parent glass ( nD≈0.05). The luminescent properties of parent glass and glass–ceramics were also estimated to confirm the incorporation of Eu3+ into the precipitated CaF2 phase.