Nanostructured re-doped SiO2-base fluorescent materials and methods for production of same

A method for making a nanostructured RE-doped SiO2-base material comprising the step of:

• forming a uniform nanoscale dispersion of a fluorescent silicate phase in a SiO2 matrix phase.

A solgel-synthesis method for forming nanostructured fluorescent materials comprising the steps of:

• forming a solution of a precursor selected from the group consisting of orthosilicates, salts, and mixtures thereof;
• and
• inducing the solution to undergo a condensation-polymerization reaction to yield the nanostructured fluorescent material.

A vapor synthesis method for forming nanostructured fluorescent materials comprising the steps of:

• forming a solution of a precursor selected from the group consisting of orthosilicates, salts, and mixtures thereof;
• and
• decomposing the solutions at elevated temperatures to yield the nanostructured fluorescent material.

A method for forming nanostructured fluorescent materials comprising the steps of:

• depositing a precursor selected from the group consisting of metalorganic compounds, chloride compounds, and mixtures thereof through a process selected from the group consisting of CVC, MCVD, VAD, and OVD;
• and
• decomposing the deposited precursor to yield the nanostructured fluorescent material.

A method for forming fluorescent material comprising the steps of:

• forming a glassy SiO2-rich starting material via a glass forming process selected from the group consisting of glass ceramic processing, slip casting, and tape casting;
• and
• heat treating the starting material to yield the fluorescent material in the form of a uniform nanodispersion of a metastable or stable phase in a SiO2 matrix phase.