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

A flux-solvothermal method was used to grow a type of novel dispersible LiLa0.4Nd0.6(PO3)(4) microcrystals with high Nd3+ ions concentration of 2.63 x 10(21) cm(-3) and excellent fluorescence properties for the first time. By optimizing experimental conditions, microcrystals with sizes in the region of 1.5- 5 mu m, a strong emission intensity and long lifetime of 107 mu s 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 x 10(-20) cm(2) when the Nd3+ ions concentration is 1 x 10(20) cm(-3), which imply the microcrystals are of potential application in transparent glass-ceramics, dispersion amplifiers and lasers