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Sol–gel template synthesis of luminescent glass–ceramic rods

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Abstract

We report an original way to prepare luminescent glass–ceramic microrods containing Eu3+ doped BaF2 nanocrystals by sol–gel chemistry within the pores of a polycarbonate template membrane. Structural characterization by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction has shown the formation of glass–ceramic microrods with 0.8-m diameter of and 10 μm length in which BaF2 nanocrystals of about 30 nm size are embedded. Photoluminescence measurements have indicated the incorporation of Eu3+ ions inside the BaF2 nanocrystals in a broad range of sites with low coordination symmetry. The comparison made with the bulk glass–ceramic indicated an influence of the dimensional constraints imposed by the membrane pores during xerogel formation and subsequent glass ceramization.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the financial support by the Romanian Education and Research Ministry (IDEI Project No. 290/05.11.2011).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Optical Processes in Nanostructured Materials Department, National Institute of Materials Physics, P. O. Box MG-7, 077125, Bucharest-Magurele, Romania

    M. Secu, C. E. Secu & M. Sima

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  1. M. Secu
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  2. C. E. Secu
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  3. M. Sima
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Correspondence to M. Secu.

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Secu, M., Secu, C.E. & Sima, M. Sol–gel template synthesis of luminescent glass–ceramic rods. J Nanopart Res 14, 772 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-0772-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-0772-1

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