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12 pages, 3947 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermal and Electron Plasma Effects on Phase Separation Dynamics Induced by Ultrashort Laser Pulses

by Maxime Cavillon, Jing Cao, Maxime Vallet, François Brisset, Léo Mazerolles, Brahim Dkhil, Matthieu Lancry and Bertrand Poumellec

Crystals 2022, 12(4), 496; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst12040496 - 03 Apr 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1845

Abstract

During ultrafast laser-induced crystallization from glass with a non-congruent composition, a phase separation occurs. The morphology of the crystallized area, inside the heat-affected zone (HAZ), is spectacular showing a bouquet-like structure, under some specific conditions related to glass chemical composition and laser parameters. [...] Read more.

During ultrafast laser-induced crystallization from glass with a non-congruent composition, a phase separation occurs. The morphology of the crystallized area, inside the heat-affected zone (HAZ), is spectacular showing a bouquet-like structure, under some specific conditions related to glass chemical composition and laser parameters. In this work, we investigate this HAZ along a written line through a set of high-resolution electron microscopy techniques to probe both the morphology and the chemical distribution at the nanoscale. Based on these findings, we demonstrate that the bouquet-like structure arises from poorly textured nanocrystals between two regions that have probably accumulated elastic strain. From that analysis, we also provide insights into the chemical separation process during this complex light-matter transformation in which the induced plasma structure guides the spatial distribution of SiO₂ and LiNbO₃. We suggest a model based on an electric field modulation produced by the inhomogeneous plasma electron trapping, that modifies the electrochemical potentials of the constituents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Induced Crystallization)

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25 pages, 5437 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Towards a Rationalization of Ultrafast Laser-Induced Crystallization in Lithium Niobium Borosilicate Glasses: The Key Role of the Scanning Speed

by Elisa Muzi, Maxime Cavillon, Matthieu Lancry, François Brisset, Ruyue Que, Diego Pugliese, Davide Janner and Bertrand Poumellec

Crystals 2021, 11(3), 290; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst11030290 - 15 Mar 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2505

Abstract

Femtosecond (fs)-laser direct writing is a powerful technique to enable a large variety of integrated photonic functions in glass materials. One possible way to achieve functionalization is through highly localized and controlled crystallization inside the glass volume, for example by precipitating nanocrystals with [...] Read more.

Femtosecond (fs)-laser direct writing is a powerful technique to enable a large variety of integrated photonic functions in glass materials. One possible way to achieve functionalization is through highly localized and controlled crystallization inside the glass volume, for example by precipitating nanocrystals with second-order susceptibility (frequency converters, optical modulators), and/or with larger refractive indices with respect to their glass matrices (graded index or diffractive lenses, waveguides, gratings). In this paper, this is achieved through fs-laser-induced crystallization of LiNbO₃ nonlinear crystals inside two different glass matrices: a silicate (mol%: 33Li₂O-33Nb₂O₅-34SiO₂, labeled as LNS) and a borosilicate (mol%: 33Li₂O-33Nb₂O₅-13SiO₂-21B₂O₃, labeled as LNSB). More specifically, we investigate the effect of laser scanning speed on the crystallization kinetics, as it is a valuable parameter for glass laser processing. The impact of scanning energy and speed on the fabrication of oriented nanocrystals and nanogratings during fs-laser irradiation is studied.Fs-laser direct writing of crystallized lines in both LNS and LNSB glass is investigated using both optical and electron microscopy techniques. Among the main findings to highlight, we observed the possibility to maintain crystallization during scanning at speeds ~5 times higher in LNSB relative to LNS (up to ~600 µm/s in our experimental conditions). We found a speed regime where lines exhibited a large polarization-controlled retardance response (up to 200 nm in LNSB), which is attributed to the texturation of the crystal/glass phase separation with a low scattering level. These characteristics are regarded as assets for future elaboration methods and designs of photonic devices involving crystallization. Finally, by using temperature and irradiation time variations along the main laser parameters (pulse energy, pulse repetition rate, scanning speed), we propose an explanation on the origin of (1) crystallization limitation upon scanning speed, (2) laser track width variation with respect to scanning speed, and (3) narrowing of the nanogratings volume but not the heat-affected volume. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Induced Crystallization)

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10 pages, 2004 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ultrafast Laser-Induced Crystallization of Lead Germanate Glass

by Sergey V. Lotarev, Alexey S. Lipatiev, Tatiana O. Lipateva, Elena V. Lopatina and Vladimir N. Sigaev

Crystals 2021, 11(2), 193; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst11020193 - 18 Feb 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2691

Abstract

Laser-induced space-selective crystallization of glass enabling the growth of continuous crystal-in-glass architectures consisting of non-centrosymmetric phases with functional properties is promising, including single-crystal waveguides for the development of integrated optical circuits. In this study, femtosecond laser direct writing of crystalline lines inside lead [...] Read more.

Laser-induced space-selective crystallization of glass enabling the growth of continuous crystal-in-glass architectures consisting of non-centrosymmetric phases with functional properties is promising, including single-crystal waveguides for the development of integrated optical circuits. In this study, femtosecond laser direct writing of crystalline lines inside lead germanate glass with the composition close to Pb₅Ge₃O₁₁ has been demonstrated. The growth of crystalline lines by the .moving focused laser beam required the preliminary growth of a seed crystal by the fixed beam. Confocal Raman spectroscopy revealed the precipitation of ferroelectric Pb₅Ge₃O₁₁, which, under certain exposure conditions, could be accompanied by precipitation of the metastable lead germanate phase. Depending on the laser beam parameters, either bilateral growth providing split, horseshoe-shaped morphology of the crystal cross-section, or centered growth resulting in elongated, elliptical cross-section shape occurred. The obtained results are of interest for the fabrication of ferroelectric Pb₅Ge₃O₁₁-based crystal-in-glass waveguides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Induced Crystallization)

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16 pages, 4038 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Three-Dimensional High Spatial Localization of Efficient Resonant Energy Transfer from Laser-Assisted Precipitated Silver Clusters to Trivalent Europium Ions

by Yannick Petit, Gustavo Galleani, Guillaume Raffy, Jean-Charles Desmoulin, Véronique Jubéra, André Del Guerzo, Andrea Simone Stucchi de Camargo, Lionel Canioni and Thierry Cardinal

Crystals 2021, 11(2), 148; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst11020148 - 01 Feb 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2130

Abstract

We report on the 3D precipitation, using a direct laser writing approach, of highly fluorescent silver clusters in a Eu³⁺-doped silver-containing zinc phosphate glass. Micro-spectroscopy of fluorescence emission shows the ability to continuously adjust the local tri-chromatic coordinates in the CIE [...] Read more.

We report on the 3D precipitation, using a direct laser writing approach, of highly fluorescent silver clusters in a Eu³⁺-doped silver-containing zinc phosphate glass. Micro-spectroscopy of fluorescence emission shows the ability to continuously adjust the local tri-chromatic coordinates in the CIE (Commission Internationale de l’Éclairage) chromaticity diagram between red and white colors, thanks to the laser-deposited dose and resulting tunable combination of emissions from Eu³⁺ and silver clusters. Moreover, continuous-wave and time-resolved FAST-FLIM spectroscopies showed a significant enhancement of the fluorescence emission of Eu³⁺ ions while being co-located with UV-excited laser-inscribed silver clusters. These results demonstrate the ability to perform efficient resonant non-radiative energy transfer from excited silver clusters to Eu³⁺, allowing such energy transfer to be highly localized on demand thanks to laser inscription. Such results open the route to 3D printing of the rare earth ions emission in glass. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Induced Crystallization)

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11 pages, 3686 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effect of Laser Beam Profile on Rotating Lattice Single Crystal Growth in Sb₂S₃ Model Glass

by Courtney Au-Yeung, Dmytro Savytskii, Keith Veenhuizen, Volkmar Dierolf and Himanshu Jain

Crystals 2021, 11(1), 36; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst11010036 - 31 Dec 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2544

Abstract

Laser heating of chalcogenide glasses has successfully produced rotating lattice single crystals through a solid-solid transformation. To better understand the nature of complex, orientation-dependent lattice rotation, we designed heat profiles of the continuous wave laser by beam shaping, fabricated larger Sb₂S [...] Read more.

Laser heating of chalcogenide glasses has successfully produced rotating lattice single crystals through a solid-solid transformation. To better understand the nature of complex, orientation-dependent lattice rotation, we designed heat profiles of the continuous wave laser by beam shaping, fabricated larger Sb₂S₃ crystal dots in Sb₂S₃ glass, and investigated the lattice rotation where the crystal could grow in all radial directions under a circular thermal gradient. The results show that the rate of lattice rotation is highly anisotropic and depends on crystallographic direction. The nature of this rotation is the same in crystals of different orientation relative to the surface. The growth directions that align with the slip planes show the highest rate of rotation and the rotation rate gradually decreases away from this direction. Additionally, the presence of multiple growth directions results in a complicated rotation system. We suggest that the growth front influences the density of dislocations introduced during growth under confinement and thus affects the lattice rotation rate in these crystals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Induced Crystallization)

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13 pages, 2023 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Femtosecond Laser-Induced Self-Assembly of Ce³⁺-Doped YAG Nanocrystals

by Yasuhiko Shimotsuma, Kotaro Tomura, Tatsuya Okuno, Masahiro Shimizu and Kiyotaka Miura

Crystals 2020, 10(12), 1142; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst10121142 - 16 Dec 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2558

Abstract

Direct three-dimensional laser writing of crystallization inside glass has been intensely studied as an attractive technique for fabricating photonic devices. In particular, polarization-dependent periodic nanostructures composed of the partial crystallization in glass can be self-assembled through focused irradiation of femtosecond pulses. Here, we [...] Read more.

Direct three-dimensional laser writing of crystallization inside glass has been intensely studied as an attractive technique for fabricating photonic devices. In particular, polarization-dependent periodic nanostructures composed of the partial crystallization in glass can be self-assembled through focused irradiation of femtosecond pulses. Here, we report on the Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG) crystal precipitation in nanoscale by femtosecond laser irradiation inside Al₂O₃-Y₂O₃ glass. Furthermore, we focus on the white emission by Ce: YAG in which a part of Y³⁺ site was replaced by Ce³⁺, the effect on photoluminescence (PL) characteristics by changing of ligand field induced by nanostructure formation was observed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Induced Crystallization)

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13 pages, 3242 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Space-Selective Control of Functional Crystals by Femtosecond Laser: A Comparison between SrO-TiO₂-SiO₂ and Li₂O-Nb₂O₅-SiO₂ Glasses

by Xuan He, Qiming Liu, Matthieu Lancry, François Brisset and Bertrand Poumellec

Crystals 2020, 10(11), 979; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst10110979 - 29 Oct 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2186

Abstract

We report on space-selective crystallization of congruent and polar Sr₂TiSi₂O₈ crystals in a stoichiometric SrO-TiO₂-SiO₂ glass induced by (1030 nm, 300 fs) femtosecond laser irradiation. This allows us to compare with non-congruent laser-induced crystallization of [...] Read more.

We report on space-selective crystallization of congruent and polar Sr₂TiSi₂O₈ crystals in a stoichiometric SrO-TiO₂-SiO₂ glass induced by (1030 nm, 300 fs) femtosecond laser irradiation. This allows us to compare with non-congruent laser-induced crystallization of polar LiNbO₃ in non-stoichiometric Li₂O-Nb₂O₅-SiO₂ glass and gain information on the mechanism of nanocrystals orientation with the laser polarization that we pointed out previously. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), second harmonic generation (SHG), and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), we studied the laser-induced crystallization according to the laser processing parameters (pulse energy, pulse repetition rate, scanning speed). We found (1) a domain where the laser track is filled with crystals not perfectly textured (low energy), (2) a domain where an amorphous volume remains surrounded by a crystallized shell (high energy). This arises from Sr out-diffusion and may give rise to the crystallization of both SrTiO₃ and Sr₂TiSi₂O₈ phases at low speed. In the one-phase domain (at higher speed), the possibility to elaborate a tube with a perfect Fresnoite texture is found. A significant difference in size and morphology whereas the crystallization threshold remains similar is discussed based on glass thermal properties. Contrarily to Li₂O-Nb₂O₅-SiO₂ (LNS) glass, no domain of oriented nanocrystallization controlled by the laser polarization has been found in SrO-TiO₂-SiO₂ (STS) glass, which is attributed to the larger crystallization speed in STS glass. No nanogratings have also been found that is likely due to the congruency of the glass. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Induced Crystallization)

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Review

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29 pages, 3260 KiB

Open AccessReview

Laser Floating Zone Growth: Overview, Singular Materials, Broad Applications, and Future Perspectives

by Francisco Rey-García, Rafael Ibáñez, Luis Alberto Angurel, Florinda M. Costa and Germán F. de la Fuente

Crystals 2021, 11(1), 38; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst11010038 - 31 Dec 2020

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5180

Abstract

The Laser Floating Zone (LFZ) technique, also known as Laser-Heated Pedestal Growth (LHPG), has been developed throughout the last several decades as a simple, fast, and crucible-free method for growing high-crystalline-quality materials, particularly when compared to the more conventional Verneuil, Bridgman–Stockbarger, and Czochralski [...] Read more.

The Laser Floating Zone (LFZ) technique, also known as Laser-Heated Pedestal Growth (LHPG), has been developed throughout the last several decades as a simple, fast, and crucible-free method for growing high-crystalline-quality materials, particularly when compared to the more conventional Verneuil, Bridgman–Stockbarger, and Czochralski methods. Multiple worldwide efforts have, over the years, enabled the growth of highly oriented polycrystalline and single-crystal high-melting materials. This work attempted to critically review the most representative advancements in LFZ apparatus and experimental parameters that enable the growth of high-quality polycrystalline materials and single crystals, along with the most commonly produced materials and their relevant physical properties. Emphasis will be given to materials for photonics and optics, as well as for electrical applications, particularly superconducting and thermoelectric materials, and to the growth of metastable phases. Concomitantly, an analysis was carried out on how LFZ may contribute to further understanding equilibrium vs. non-equilibrium phase selectivity, as well as its potential to achieve or contribute to future developments in the growth of crystals for emerging applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Induced Crystallization)

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