Synthesis and Characterization of Luminescent Thin Films Based on Nd3+-Doped YAG Nanocrystals in Silica Microstructured Optical Fibers for Sensing Applications

Abstract

We suggested an alternative to technically complex CVD processes method for producing thin films containing highly luminescent YAG nanocrystals activated with Nd3+ ions inside channels of microstructured optical fibers by the liquid polymer-salt method. As a result of studying structural and spectral properties of the obtained optical elements, the formation of highly luminescent in the near-IR region nanocrystals was determined, which defines the potential of their application in sensor technologies. We studied temperature sensitivity of YAG:Nd3+ nanocrystals synthesized in channels of a microstructured optical fiber and compared it with YAG:Nd3+ nanocrystals having the form of powder. It was found out that luminescence intensity of these materials decreases exponentially in the temperature range from 50 to 600 °C.