Structural and fluorescence properties of Ni:MgO–SiO2 particles synthesized by flame spray pyrolysis

Structural and fluorescence properties of flame spray-synthesized Ni 1 mol%-doped MgO–SiO2 nano-particles (MgO:SiO2 = 100:0, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 in mol%) were investigated as a first step to prepare transparent materials containing Ni:MgO for optical gain media. Polyhedral aggregates of primary particles with diameters of 8–19 nm were obtained for all compositions. The 100MgO particles were single crystalline and showed the fluorescences (centered at 1260 and 1320 nm) and lifetime (3.8 ms) similar to those of solid state-synthesized Ni:MgO polycrystalline powder under laser excitation at 976 nm, suggesting Ni ions incorporated in MgO.