Flux-solvothermal preparation of dispersible LiLa0.4Nd0.6(PO3)4 microcrystals with regular morphology and superior fluorescence

Abstract

A flux-solvothermal method was used to grow a type of novel dispersible LiLa_0.4Nd_0.6(PO₃)₄ microcrystals with high Nd³⁺ ions concentration of 2.63 × 10²¹ cm⁻³ and excellent fluorescence properties for the first time. By optimizing experimental conditions, microcrystals with sizes in the region of 1.5–5 μm, a strong emission intensity and long lifetime of 107 μs were obtained. The results show that their transparent dispersion in the mixed solvents of DMSO and CHBr₂CHBr₂ had a strong absorption at 800 nm, low solvent quenching ratio of 6.5%, high quantum yield of 32.17% and large emission cross section of 4.39 × 10⁻²⁰ cm² when the Nd³⁺ ions concentration is 1 × 10²⁰ cm⁻³, which imply the microcrystals are of potential application in transparent glass-ceramics, dispersion amplifiers and lasers.