A method for producing calcium lanthanum sulfide (CLS) nano powder and optical ceramics formed therefrom. The method includes the steps of mixing a lanthanum precursor and calcium precursor in water to obtain a solution and adding a sulfide precursor to the solution. Upon adding the sulfide precursor, stirring the solution for 5-25 minutes at 55-95° C. to obtain a mixture. The mixture is then introduced into a muffle furnace, preheated at 400-600° C., and the mixture is kept for 15-50 minutes to obtain nano powder. The nano powder can be annealed and subjected to spark plasma sintering to obtain the optical ceramics.

A method for producing calcium lanthanum sulfide (CLS) nano powder and optical ceramics formed therefrom. The method includes the steps of mixing a lanthanum precursor and calcium precursor in water to obtain a solution and adding a sulfide precursor to the solution. Upon adding the sulfide precursor, stirring the solution for 5-25 minutes at 55-95° C. to obtain a mixture. The mixture is then introduced into a muffle furnace, preheated at 400-600° C., and the mixture is kept for 15-50 minutes to obtain nano powder. The nano powder can be annealed and subjected to spark plasma sintering to obtain the optical ceramics.

A method of preparing a fine powder of calcium lanthanoid sulfide is disclosed. The method includes spraying soluble calcium and lanthanoid salts into at least one precipitating solution to form a precipitate comprising insoluble calcium and lanthanoid salts, optionally, oxidizing the precipitate comprising insoluble calcium and lanthanoid salts, and sulfurizing the optionally oxidized precipitate to form a fine powder of calcium lanthanoid sulfide. An alternative method for forming the powder is by flame pyrolysis. The calcium lanthanoid sulfide powder produced by either method can have an impurity concentration of less than 100 ppm, a carbon concentration of less than 200 ppm, a BET surface area of at least 50 m.sup.2/g, and an average particle size of less than 100 nm.

The invention relates to methods and compositions for synthesizing a phosphor and preparing a surface-modified phosphor comprising a phosphor, a silica, and a silane, and articles comprising same. The invention also relates to a method of dispersion of the disclosed surface-modified phosphor with a blue emitting agent in a polymer matrix and uses thereof.

The invention relates to methods and compositions for synthesizing a phosphor and preparing a surface-modified phosphor comprising a phosphor, a silica, and a silane, and articles comprising same. The invention also relates to a method of dispersion of the disclosed surface-modified phosphor with a blue emitting agent in a polymer matrix and uses thereof.

The invention relates to rare-earth-doped ternary sulfides. The rare-earth-doped ternary sulfides may be used as an active material for mid-wave infrared and long-wave infrared lasers and amplifiers. Methods for producing laser materials including rare-earth-doped ternary sulfides, as well as lasers and amplifiers incorporating the laser materials, are also provided.

A method for large-scale synthesis of calcium lanthanum sulfide (CLS) powders and the resulting optical-grade materials are disclosed. The CLS powders, including compositions such as CaLa.sub.2S.sub.4, CaLa.sub.2.0-2.7S.sub.4.0-5.05, and CaLa.sub.18S.sub.28, are produced via an aqueous combustion process utilizing lanthanum nitrate, calcium nitrate, and thioacetamide as a sulfur donor. The exothermic combustion step generates localized high temperatures, forming nanostructured CLS powders with uniform stoichiometry and phase purity without the need for prolonged calcination. The powders exhibit excellent sinterability and can be consolidated by hot isostatic pressing into windows, domes, and lenses with infrared transmittance exceeding 50% in the 8-14 m range and high mechanical strength. The process is scalable, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly, enabling cost-effective production of infrared optical components for missile and defense applications.

A method for large-scale synthesis of calcium lanthanum sulfide (CLS) powders and the resulting optical-grade materials are disclosed. The CLS powders, including compositions such as CaLa.sub.2S.sub.4, CaLa.sub.2.0-2.7S.sub.4.0-5.05, and CaLa.sub.18S.sub.28, are produced via an aqueous combustion process utilizing lanthanum nitrate, calcium nitrate, and thioacetamide as a sulfur donor. The exothermic combustion step generates localized high temperatures, forming nanostructured CLS powders with uniform stoichiometry and phase purity without the need for prolonged calcination. The powders exhibit excellent sinterability and can be consolidated by hot isostatic pressing into windows, domes, and lenses with infrared transmittance exceeding 50% in the 8-14 m range and high mechanical strength. The process is scalable, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly, enabling cost-effective production of infrared optical components for missile and defense applications.