Luminescent glass and glassceramics for middle infrared sensing applications

Abstract

This project aims to obtain glass and glass-ceramics based on heavy metal oxides, doped with rare earth ions to obtain materials that can be used as gas sensors in the mid-infrared region. The composition of the glasses will contain GeO2 and Ga2O3 as base compounds, in addition to the combination with other oxides. These compositions will be doped with different concentrations of rare earths, such as Dy3+ and Ho3+. The glasses will be prepared by the melt-quenching methodology and, later, the glass-ceramics will be prepared by controlled thermal treatment of the obtained glasses at temperatures to be determined experimentally. All synthesized materials will be characterized concerning their structural, thermal and optical properties, with main emphasis on luminescent properties in the mid-infrared region. The project foresees an internship to be carried out abroad and which will be used for luminescence studies.(AU)