Preparation of Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped Ga/In based fluorophosphates glass–ceramics by thermoelectric treatments

Abstract Er 3+ /Yb 3+ co-doped fluorophosphates glass with the composition of 20GaF 3 –15InF 3 –17CdF 2 –15ZnF 2 –18.5PbF 2 –10SnF 2 –3P 2 O 5 –0.5Er 2 F 3 –1Yb 2 F 3 was prepared by the melt quenching technique. The glass was heat treated with and without the application of an external electric field. The samples were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-environment scanning electron (FE-SEM) and fluorescence spectra. The presence of electric field, during the heat treatment, promotes the crystallization at lower temperature. Compared to the as-prepared sample, the fluorescence intensity significantly increases in glass–ceramics. Besides, electric field can induce crystallization when one electrode is isolated from the material as well.