Structure and Luminescent Properties of Sm^(3+) Doped SrO-MgO-SiO_2 Glass Ceramics

A new type of samarium ion activated luminescent glass ceramics with main crystal phase of melilite was prepared. The effect of heat-treatment temperature on the structure of glass ceramics was investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis（XRD）, scanning electron microscope（SEM） and fluorescence spectrometer. In the Sm^3＋ doped SrO-MgO-SiO2 glass ceramic, its excitation spectra are in the wavelength range of 350-500 nm, and its excitation peaks are at 360 nm, 374 nm, 404 nm, 417 nm, and 475 nm with the host excitation peak of 404 nm, showing a strong orange-red luminescence when using 404 nm violet to excite it, and its emission peaks are at 564 nm, 600 nm and 648 nm with the host emission peak at 600 nm. The increase in the heat-treatment temperature has no infl uence on the position of the fl uorescent spectra. However, with the increase of heat-treatment temperature, the intensity of fl uorescence spectrum shows an increasing tendency. The increase in the concentration of Sm3＋ also improves the intensity of the fl uorescent spectra. In the experimental concentration range（0.05mol%-0.30mol%）, a special concentration quenching phenomenon happens.

Recent progress on upconversion luminescence enhancement in rare-earth doped transparent glass-ceramics

The upconversion（UC） of the rare earth doped glass-ceramics has been extensively investigated due to their potential applications in many fields, such as color display, high density memories, optical data storage, sensor and energy solar cell, etc. Many series of them, especially the oxyfluorides glasses containing Ba2 LaF 7 nanocrystals were studied in this review work, due to the thermal and mechanical toughness, high optical transmittance from the ultraviolet to the infrared regions, and a low nonlinear refractive index compared to the other commercial laser glasses. Moreover, the energy transfer（ET） between the rare earth ions and transition metals plays an important role in the upconversion process. The cooperative ET has been researched very activly in UC glasses due to applications in the fields of solar cells, such as in the Er/Yb, Tm/Yb, Tb/Yb, Tb/Er/Yb and Tm/Er/Yb couples. The present article reviews on the recent progress made on：（i） upconversion materials with fluoride microcrystals in glasses and the mechanisms involved, including the UC in double and tri-dopant RE ions activated fluoride microcrystal, energy transfer process; and（ii） the effect of the metal Mn and nanoparticles of Au, Ag, Cu on the enhancement of UC emissions. Discussions have also been made on materials, material synthesis, the structural and emission properties of glass-ceramics. Additionally, the conversion efficiency is still a challenge for the spectra conversion materials and application; challenge and future advances have also been demonstrated.

Bringing Ceramic Parts to Earth

The benefits of using ceramic engine components are well known:They are tougher than metal parts, weigh less, and can withstand hotter operating temperatures.So why aren’t they being used now? High cost.

Effect of CeO_2 on low temperature pressureless sintering of porous Si_3N_4 ceramics

Porous silicon nitride（Si_3N_4） ceramics were fabricated by low temperature pressureless sintering, using carbonized rice husk and α-Si_3N_4 powders as raw materials, and MgO-CeO_2 as sintering additives. The effects of CeO_2 concentration and sintering temperature on phase composition, microstructure, porosity and flexural strength of the sintered products were investigated by X-ray diffraction（XRD）, scanning electronic microscopy（SEM）, Archimedes＇ displacement method and three-point bending strength, respectively. The results suggested that MgO-CeO_2 was a much more effective sintering additive for Si_3N_4 than MgO alone. When CeO_2 concentration was 4 wt.%–5 wt.% and sintering temperatures were in a range of 1500 to 1550 oC, the obtained porous silicon nitride ceramics had the porosity of 45.78%–42.81% and flexural strength of 49.44–84.09 MPa. Moreover, when sintering temperature was 1550 oC and CeO_2 concentration was 5%, large elongated β-Si_3N_4 grains were well developed.

Helium ion irradiation effects on neodymium and cerium co-doped Gd_2Zr_2O_7 pyrochlore ceramic

This paper studies the helium ions irradiation effects on Nd and Ce co-doped Gd_2 Zr_2 O_7 ceramics. where Nd replaces the Gd site and Ce replaces the Zr site respectively. A series of（Gd_（1-x）Nd_x）_2（Zr_（1-y）Ce_y）_2 O_7（0 ≤ x, y ≤ 1） ceramics were irradiated with a 500 keV He ions at room temperature at fluences ranging from 1 × 10^（15） to 1 × 10^（17） ions/cm^2. The irradiated samples were characterized using GIXRD, Raman and SEM measurements. From the GIXRD and Raman observations, the results indicate that all the samples display a deficient fluorite structure after irradiation. The irradiation toleration increases with the irradiation depth increasing under experimental conditions, and Nd_2 Ce_2 O_7 has the best irradiation stability in the（Gd_（1-x）Nd_x）_2（Zr_（1-y）Ce_y）_2 O_7（0≤ x. y≤1）. Based on SEM results, the irradiated samples are still relatively dense and uniform, and no second phase exists.

Sintering characteristics and microwave dielectric properties of 0.5Ca_(0.6)La_(0.267)TiO_3-0.5Ca(Mg_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))O_3 ceramics prepared by reaction-sintering process

0.5 Ca（0.6La0.267TiO3-0.5 Ca（Mg1/3Nb2/3）O3（5 CLT-5 CMN） ceramics were prepared by a reaction-sintering process and their sintering characteristics, microwave dielectric properties were investigated in detail.Without any calcination stage involved,a mixture of CaCO_3, La_2 O_3, TiO_2, MgO and Nb_2 O_5 was pressed and sintered directly. Pure phase 5 CLT-5 CMN ceramics with high density and dense microstructure can be obtained after sintered at 1400 ℃ for 4 h. Compared with those prepared by the conventional ceramic route, 5 CLT-5 CMN ceramics produced by the reaction-sintering process exhibit slightly higher dielectric constant and Q×f value. Fine microwave dielectric properties of ε_r= 56.4, Q×f= 48,550 GHz and T_f = ＋8.7 ppm/℃ for 5 CLT-5 CMN ceramics sintered at 1400 ℃ for 4 h are obtained, suggesting reactionsintering process is a simple and efficient method to produce pure phase 5 CLT-5 CMN ceramics as a potential candidate for the fabrication of microwave devices.

Influence of dopant concentration on the transparent and thermal properties of Nd_2O_3-doped alumina translucent ceramics

The transparent and thermal developments of high-purity Al_2O_3 doped with different levels of Nd_2O_3 were investigated. Dopant levels ranged from 500–1500 ppm（Nd/Al atomic ratio）. The samples were characterized with X-ray diffraction（XRD）, scanning electron microscopy（SEM）, Raman spectroscopy, transmittance spectroscopy and specific heat measurement. Results revealed that with proper Nd doped, Nd^（3＋） ions solid dissolved in Al_2O_3 lattice, resulting in small and uniform grain and high bonding vibration, which was beneficial to transparent and thermal properties. With 1000 ppm Nd doped, Al_2O_3 translucent ceramics showed a total transmittance of 89% and thermal conductivity of 41.7 W/m/K, indicating a potential application as substrate for effective heat dissipation and multi emitting surface in LEDs module.

Phase transformation of ZrO2 doped with CeO2

Thermal barrier coatings（TBCs） protection is widely used to prolong the lifetime of turbine components.The outermost layer of TBCs is ceramic layer, whose function is heat insulation, and the main composition of the ceramic layer is ZrO2. In this study, the micro-Zr02 and the nano-ZrO2 doped with 10 wt% CeO2 as well as microZrO2 and nano-ZrO2 were prepared by air plasma spraying（APS） to study the advantages of the addition of rare earth element. The effect of CeO2 on the phase transformation of ZrO2 was studied. The results show that there are few cracks in micro-and nano-ZrO2 doped with 10 wt% CeO2,and rare earth oxides can affect the phase transformation significantly. The morphologies, hardness and elastic modulus of the four ceramic layers were also discussed.