The preparation and luminescent properties of AlPO4 mesoporous glass impregnated with Tb3 + ions

Intense room-temperature terbium photoluminescence, with well-resolved optical bands corresponding to electron transitions 5D4 → 7Fj (j = 3–6) was observed from mesoporous AlPO4 glass after immersion in solutions of terbium nitrates and subsequent heat treatment. The modification of Tb ions for the AlPO4 network structure is revealed by XPS spectra. The PL mechanism of the formed nanocomposite is discussed through the effects of Tb concentration and excitation wavelength. Our results indicate that the mesoporous AlPO4 glass is a suitable matrix to incorporate rare earth ions as the light emitting material.