Energy conversion involving lanthanide ions in oxyfluoride glasses and glass-ceramics: From fundamentals to luminescence and thermometric properties

Abstract

This research proposal aims to develop new and efficient glass and glass-ceramic materials based on lanthanide-doped tellurite and fluorotellurite, that can act in the areas of photonic materials, light energy converters, and luminescent temperature sensors. The proposal focuses on the spectroscopic studies of these inorganic materials with efficient emission in the visible and near-infrared ranges and pronounced linear and nonlinear optical features. The control of the (micro)structural, thermal, and morphological properties of these glasses and glass-ceramics and their correlations with the optical and luminescent properties, represent the fundamental scientific basis of the project, which aims at technological and innovative applications in the areas of optical materials (linear and nonlinear) and sensors (luminescent thermometry). The interrelation between the chemical composition-property-application with the optical properties by doping with Ln3+ will be systematically explored. In the co-doped systems, the energy transfer processes and dynamics of the mechanisms will be studied, to obtain efficient and robust photonic materials and luminescent thermometers. Added to the specific objectives, these materials will be prepared to attend to more than one functionality, which makes them multifunctional platforms. This is a research field that converges the areas of chemistry, physics, and materials science, bringing transformative concepts, new paradigms of application, and technological impact to various areas of knowledge. (AU)