Structure and Spectral-Luminescent Properties of Silica Gel-Glasses Containing CeO₂ - Ln₂O₃ Nanoparticles: Influence of Local Charge Compensator

Abstract

Silica glasses activated with CeO₂-Ln₂O₃ nanocrystallites where Ln=Nd, Sm, Eu, Er have been synthesized by a direct sol - gel - glass transition and their investigation with help of an X-ray diffraction, small-angle neutron scattering, and spectral-luminescent methods carried out. It is established that co-doping of the glasses with magnesium for local charge compensation leads both to significant increase of the nanocrystallites concentration and limitation of their sizes.