Preparation and characterization of Er3＋-Yb3＋-Ce3＋ co-doped transparent glass ceramic containing nano Cas（PO4）3F crystals

A transparent glass ceramic tri-doped with Ce3＋/Er3＋/yb3＋ was fabricated by the high-temperature melting technique and following heat-treatment. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope results demonstrated that Cas（PO4）3F（FAP） nanocrystals, possessed with preferable emission performances for the 1.54 μm transition for doping Er3＋, were homogeneously pre- cipitated among the glass matrix with a mean size of 30 rim. Addition of Ce3＋ greatly enhanced 1.54 ~tm fluorescence of Er3＋ by the cross relaxation energy transfer between Er3＋ and Ce3＋. Meanwhile, incorporation of Ce3＋ dramatically decreased the visible upcon- version emission intensity of glass ceramic than that of glass, suggesting that Ce3＋ might incorporate into the FAP nanocrystals. The properties of this transparent glass ceramic showed the potential application as an efficient 980 nm pumped infrared laser medium.