Extraction of Nd3+-doped LiYF4 phosphor from sol–gel-derived oxyfluoride glass ceramics by hydrofluoric acid treatment

Abstract Nd3+-doped oxyfluoride glass ceramics were synthesized by the sol–gel method. LiYF4 crystallites were deposited in an amorphous matrix consisting mainly of silica by heat treatment at middle temperature of 400–600 °C in air. A hydrofluoric acid (HF) treatment was carried out on the glass ceramics, resulting in the extraction of LiYF4 crystallites from the amorphous matrix. The photoluminescent (PL) properties were investigated for the sample before and after HF treatment. The results indicated that the Nd3+ ions were predominantly incorporated in LiYF4, and the extraction of LiYF4 crystallites was successfully carried out without changing the PL properties of Nd3+ ions.