Toward germanate ceramics Li ₂ AGeO ₄ :Nd ³⁺ (A = Zn, Mg) emitting near‐infrared radiation

Abstract Germanate ceramics Li 2 ZnGeO 4 :Nd 3+ and Li 2 MgGeO 4 :Nd 3+ have been studied for near‐infrared (IR) luminescence applications. The phase identification showed that both ceramic compounds crystallized in a monoclinic lattice, characteristic of a broad family of germanate olivines. Near‐IR luminescence spectra have been analyzed for Li 2 AGeO 4 :Nd 3+ (A = Zn, Mg) under different excitation wavelengths. Near‐IR emission bands observed in the second biological window correspond to the ceramic host as well as 4 F 3/2 → 4 I 11/2 and 4 F 3/2 → 4 I 13/2 transitions of Nd 3+ ions, respectively. Based on luminescence spectra and their decays, several spectroscopic parameters for un‐doped and Nd 3+ ‐doped ceramic samples were determined. The experimental results for germanate olivines containing Nd 3+ ions suggest that ceramic host gives important contribution to near‐IR luminescence at second biological window.