Temperature-dependent broadband near-infrared luminescence in silicate glass ceramics containing Li₂MgSiO₄: Cr⁴⁺ nanocrystals

Transparent glass ceramics containing Li₂MgSiO₄: Cr⁴⁺ nanocrystallites were prepared. Intense broadband near-infrared emission with full width at half-maximum larger than 200 nm and long fluorescence lifetime (τ > 100 μs) were observed. The temperature-dependent optical characteristics of the glass ceramics containing Li₂MgSiO₄: Cr⁴⁺ crystallites were compared to those of Li₂MgSiO₄: Cr⁴⁺ single crystals. The reason for extra-long near-infrared fluorescence lifetime was illuminated by the mixed effect between ³T₂ and ¹E levels. The crystal-filed-induced particular energy-level scheme makes the fluorescence lifetime of the glass ceramics containing Li₂MgSiO₄: Cr⁴⁺ crystallites one order longer than those of other Cr⁴⁺-doped glass ceramics.