LiYF-nanocrystal-embedded glass ceramics for upconversion: glass crystallization, optical thermometry and spectral conversion.

Glass ceramics (GCs) can perfectly integrate nanocrystals (NCs) into bulk materials. Herein, GCs containing LiYF NCs were fabricated a traditional melt-quenching method and subsequent glass crystallization. Structural characterization was carried out X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and scanning transmission electron microscopy high-angle annular dark-field (STEM-HAADF) analysis, suggesting the precipitation of LiYF NCs from a glass matrix.