Efficient broadband near-infrared emission from Ni/sup 2+/-doped Li/sub 2/O-Ga/sub 2/O/sub 3/-SiO/sub 2/ transparent glass-ceramics

Transparent silicate glass-ceramics embedding Ni/sup 2+/-doped Li/sub 2/Ga/sub 5/O/sub 8/ nano-crystallites have been prepared by heat-treatment of NiO-doped Li/sub 2/O-Ga/sub 2/O/sub 3/-SiO/sub 2/ (LGS) glass. The quantum efficiency of near-infrared emission was estimated as about 9 % at room temperature.