Oxyfluoride glasses with the compositions of 33SiO(2)-21Al(2)O(3)-33NaF-9LaF(3)-4Nd(2)O(3)-XErF3 (mol%), x = 0 and 0.5, are prepared using a conventional melt-quenching technique, and the laser-induced crystallization method using continuous-wave (cw) diode lasers with a wavelength lambda = 795 nm is applied to form LaF3 crystals on the glass surface. It is found from X-ray diffraction analyses and micro-photoluminescence spectra that Nd3+-, Er3+-doped LaF3 crystals with a diameter of similar to 23 nm are patterned by laser irradiations with a laser power of 1.8 W and a laser scanning speed of 10 mu m/s. It is proposed that the lines patterned by laser irradiations are consisted of the composite of Nd3+-doped LaF3 nanocrystals and the SiO2-based oxide glassy phase. It is suggested that the combination of cw diode laser (X = 795 nm) irradiations and the non-radiated relaxation process in the f-f transition level of F-4(5/2)-> I-4(9/2) of Nd3+ ions is effective in the spatially selected local patterning of fluoride crystals in oxyfluoride glasses with Nd3+ ions. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.