Ionoluminescence of silicates for applications in ceramics at cryogenic temperatures

Requirements on accurate physical properties need new characterization techniques for structural defects. The use of light ions such as H+ and He+ with MeV energies allows penetration to a depth of several microns in most materials producing strong luminescence to gain information on the defect structures present. Examples of ionoluminescence spectra of silicates for ceramic uses are included such as Mn2+-Fe2+ coupled pairs in quartz, Dy3+ in zircon, hatch-twinning in microcline and spontaneous strain and sodium in albite. In cryogenic thermal conditions tectosilicates display both, reorganization of Mn2+ and Fe3+ centres plus a large enlargement of the UV-blue emissions by stress mechanisms. Nesosilicates, i.e., zircon, shows: differences such as existence of REE and (Dy3+) and a selective reduction of some UV-blue peaks, e.g., at 340 and 400 nm..