Luminescence and second harmonic generation in Eu3+/Eu2+ embedded B2O3: LiNbO3 non-linear glass–ceramics

Multifunctional europium doped Li2O–Nb2O3–B2O2 glass has been prepared by melt-quench method. Through subsequent heat treatments glass has then been transformed into glass ceramics containing ferroelectric LiNbO3 phase. The glass ceramics have shown enhanced Eu3+ emission compared to parent glass when excited by 266 nm radiation. The emission measurements of glass ceramics have also shown the presence of Eu2+ state along with Eu3+ and Eu2+ state was found to increase when glass was heated in inert atmosphere. Lifetime of the 5D0 level of the Eu3+ has been measured and a significant increase is found in case of glass ceramic prepared around glass transition temperature. Glass ceramics have also shown good second harmonic generation (SHG) with pulsed 1064 nm laser excitation.

► We synthesized europium doped ferroelectric LiNbO3 phase in borate glass by heat treatment method.
► In glass ceramic sample 3+ and 2+ valance states of europium ion are observed with their characteristic emission bands.
► A large enhancement in the emission intensity of Eu3+ ion is observed in glass–ceramic.
► Prepared glass ceramic sample showed fluorescence and second harmonic generation (SHG) as multifunctional property.