Eu oxidation state in fluorozirconate-based glass ceramics

The influence of InF(3) doping and remelting on Eu-doped fluorozirconate-based glass ceramics was investigated using near-edge x-ray absorption and optical spectroscopy. It was found that the addition of InF(3) to the melt decreases the Eu(2+)Eu(3+) mole ratio, while remelting leads to a significant change in the Eu(2+)Eu(3+) ratio in favor of Eu(2+). Photoluminescence spectroscopy shows that additional annealing steps lead to the formation of BaCl(2) nanoparticles in the glass. In as-made glass ceramics containing InF(3), a phase transition of the nanoparticles from hexagonal to orthorhombic structure is observed. This phase transition is not observed in the remelted glasses studied here.