Persistent luminescence in both first and second biological windows in ZnGa2O4 :Cr3+,Yb3+ glass ceramics

ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ is an optical material well known for its deep red persistent luminescence properties which are centered in the first biological window. In this work, Yb3+, Cr3+ co-doped zinc gallate oxide has been prepared in the form of glass-ceramics. The studied samples have been elaborated via conventional melt quenching process leading to nanometer scale phase separated glass which was subsequently crystallized to obtain nanocrystals embedded in a transparent glass matrix. In these as-prepared ZnGa2O4:Cr3+,Yb3+ glass-ceramics, regular Cr3+ emission (at around 695 nm) as well as Yb3+ emission (between 950 and 1100 nm) is observed. Several photoluminescence emission and excitation experiments have been recorded in order clarify (i) the simultaneous emission of these cations in different optical windows and (ii) the energy transfer process between these two emitting centers. Further studies proved that Yb3+ is not only active in photoluminescence but also in persistent luminescence, leading to a material demonstrating persistent luminescence properties in both first and second biological windows (650-950 and 1000-1350 nm respectively). Thermoluminescence experiments have been carried out on these materials in order to gain deeper information about the persistent luminescence process.