Photoluminescence characteristics of neodymium oxide nanocrystal/titanic/ormosil composite sol-gel thin films

Neodymium (III) oxide nanocrystal/titania/organically-modified silane (ormo sil) composite thin films have been prepared using a chemical approach cons isting of a combination of inverse microemulsion and sol-gel techniques at low temperature. Transmission electron microscopy shows that the neodymium (III) oxide nanoparticles have a needlelike nanocrystal structure. A strong room temperature emission at 1064 nm, corresponding to the F-4(3/2) --> I- 4(11/2) transition, has been observed as a function of the heat treatment t emperature used for the production of the composite thin films. In addition to this emission, two other main emissions at 890 nm and at 1336 nm have a lso been observed. In particular, there was a clear shoulder peak at 1145 n m, probably be due to the host matrix, which was observed in all the measur ed samples and this shoulder peak gave a maximum intensity after heat treat ment at 300 degreesC.