Transparent Ni²⁺-doped silicate glass ceramics for broadband near-infrared emission

Transparent Ni²⁺-doped MgO-Al₂O₃-Ga₂O₃-SiO₂-TiO₂ glass ceramics were fabricated. The precipitated nanocrystal phase in the glass ceramics was identified by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope. Broadband near-infrared emission centered at 1220 nm with full width at half maximum of about 240 nm and lifetime of about 250 μs was observed with 980 nm excitation. The longer wavelength emission compared with Ni²⁺-doped MgAl₂O₄ crystal was attributed to the low crystal field occupied by Ni²⁺ in the glass ceramics. The present Ni²⁺-doped transparent glass ceramics may have potential applications in broadband optical amplifiers.