Transparent materials based on semiconducting ZnO: glass-ceramics and optical ceramics doped with rare-earth and transition-metal ions

International audienceThe structure of multiphase transparent glass-ceramics prepared from glasses by controlled crystallization and of optical ceramics prepared by uniaxial recrystallization hot pressing are compared. Glass-ceramics and ceramics were doped with rare-earth (RE) and transition metal (TM) ions.In the course of the glass-ceramics development, regions of structural inhomogeneity enriched in ZnO are formed in the initial glass. Their composition depends on the type and concentration of the TM and RE ion and determines the difference in phase assemblage of glass-ceramics. In opticalceramics, cobalt ion enter the structure of ZnO and form the CoO phase. RE ions do not enter the structure of ZnO crystals, but are located on their surface and form the RE2O3 phase. ZnO optical ceramics doped with cobalt and RE ions should also be considered as multiphase materials