Luminescence properties of Na3YSi3O9:M3+ (M = Sm, Tb, Tm) glass ceramics

• Sm3+, Tb3+, or Tm3+ doped-Na3YSi3O9 GC emit reddish, green, or blue light, respectively.
• Emission intensities of these glass ceramics are superior to corresponding phosphors.
• Color tones of Na3YSi3O9:Sm3+, Tb3+, Tm3+ GC can be changed from warm white to cool white.
• These glass ceramics have potential application in white LED devices.

The transparent Na3YSi3O9:M3+ (M = Sm, Tb, Tm) glass ceramics were prepared by high temperature melting with a heat-treatment at 750 °C. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used to investigate their structure and optical properties. The M3+ ions were introduced as luminescence centers into the Na3YSi3O9 glass ceramics. Under ultraviolet (UV) excitation, the Na3YSi3O9:Sm3+, Na3YSi3O9:Tb3+, and Na3YSi3O9:Tm3+ glass ceramics exhibited the characteristic transitions of Sm3+ (4G5/2 → 6HJ, J = 5/2 and 7/2), Tb3+ (5D4 → 7FJ, J = 6, 5 and 4), and Tm3+ (1D2 → 3F4), respectively. The color tones of Na3YSi3O9:Sm3+, Tb3+, Tm3+ glass ceramic changed from cool white (0.2589, 0.3119) to warm white (0.3231, 0.4491) by adjusting the excitation wavelength. The results indicated that the Na3YSi3O9:M3+ (M = Sm, Tb, Tm) glass ceramic is a potential matrix material for white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) under UV-LED excitation.