Synthesis of nano-colloidal silica particles and their effects on the luminescence properties of Eu2+-doped High silica glass

Different from diminishing pore-size in porous glass to get better dispersion in tradition, fabricating nano-colloidal silica particles can enhance dispersion capability for rare-earth ions. Nano-colloidal silica particles in porous glass form sub-porous structures, and thus markedly improve the luminescence properties of Eu2+-doped sintered high silica glass. The optimum Eu2+-doping concentration is five times improved without intensity loss. Luminescence lifetime also increases, due to inhabitation of concentration quenching. Thanks to nephelauxetic effect, excitation peak redshift (from 330 to 377 nm) and broadening are realized, which makes it possible that the Eu2+-doped high silica glass can be excited by laser diode and light-emitting diode.