Broadband near-infrared (IR) luminescence in transparent alkali gallium silicate glass-ceramics containing Ni2+-doped β-Ga2O3 nanocrystals was observed. This broadband emission could be attributed to the 3T2g (3F) → 3A2g (3F) transition of octahedral Ni2+ ions in glass-ceramics. The full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the near-IR luminescence and fluorescent lifetime of the glass-ceramic doped with 0.10 mol% NiO were 260 nm and ∼1220 μs, respectively. It is expected that transparent Ni2+-doped β-Ga2O3 glass-ceramics with this broad near-IR emission and long fluorescent lifetime have potential applications as super-broadband optical amplification media.

Infrared (IR) luminescence covering 1.1 to ∼1.6 μm wavelength region was observed from bismuth-doped barium silicate glasses, excited by a laser diode at 808 nm wavelength region, at room temperature. The peak of the IR luminescence appears at 1325 nm. A full width half-maximum (FWHM) and the lifetime of the fluorescence is more than 200 nm and 400 μs, respectively. The fluorescence intensity increases with Al2O3 content, but decreases with BaO content. We suggest that the IR luminescence should be ascribed to the low valence state of bismuth Bi2+ or Bi+, and Al3+ ions play an indirect dispersing role for the infrared luminescent centers.

We report on the observation of space-selective precipitation of gold nanoparticles in Au2O-doped silicate glass by a method of irradiation with an 800-nm femtosecond laser and further heat treatment. The irradiated region of the glass first became gray in color after irradiation with the femtosecond laser and then turned red after further heat treatment at around 520 °C, indicating that gold nanoparticles have precipitated in the irradiated region of the glass. A possible mechanism has been suggested that the Au+ ions in the region irradiated are reduced to Au0 atoms by the femtosecond laser, and then the Au0 atoms accumulate to form gold nanoparticles with the glass sample heat treated. The observed phenomenon should have potential applications in the fabrication of ultrafast all-optical switches.

A Au colloid was prepared in a 5 mM HAuCl4 solution through irradiation with a focused infrared femtosecond laser at 800 nm. The Au colloid was characterized by absorption spectra, transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction analysis. The appearance of absorption peak around 526 nm in the absorption spectra and the wine-red color of sample solution HAuCl4 under focused laser irradiation verified the formation of Au colloid. The solution color changed in the order of yellow → orange → wine-red due to the local formation of Au nanoparticles near the focus. The pulse energy, focus position of laser beam, and solvent composite play important roles in formation, grain size, and stability of the Au colloid. A mechanism for the precipitate of Au nanoparticles was proposed, and a multiphoton process of femtosecond laser was involved.

We report on long-lasting phosphorescence and photostimulated long-lasting phosphorescence phenomena in femtosecond laser-irradiated Mn2+-doped alumino-phosphofluoride glasses. Long-lasting phosphorescence was observed in the glass samples after the irradiation of the focused femtosecond laser. Photostimulated long-lasting phosphorescence was observed in the femtosecond laser pre-irradiated region by excitation of an ultraviolet light of 365 nm, after the femtosecond laser-induced long-lasting phosphorescence decayed completely. The mechanisms of these phenomena have been discussed. These phenomena have potential uses in three-dimensional ultra-high-density optical recording.

2-[3-(1,3-dihydro-1,3,3-trimethyl-2H-indol-2-ylidine)-1-propenyl]-1,3,3-trimethyl-3H-indolium idoide (HICI) dye-doped SiO2 particles were synthesized by sol-gel method. Dimension, diameter, distribution, and homogeneity of the particles are closely related to the positively charged dye concentration, corresponding to the zeta potential of the particles. When the dye concentration reaches about 7.8 × 10−4 mol/mol SiO2, corresponding to the isoelectric point of the particles, the maximum particle size and the most homogeneity can be reached.