Spectroscopic properties of the Ce-doped borate glasses

The EPR, optical absorption and photoluminescence (emission and excitation) spectra as well as decay kinetics of a series of the Ce-doped glasses with Li2B4O7, LiKB4O7, CaB4O7, and LiCaBO3 compositions have been investigated and analysed. The borate glasses were obtained from the corresponding polycrystalline compounds in the air atmosphere, using standard glass technology. The EPR signals of the isolated Ce3+ and pair Ce3+-Ce3+ centres, coupled by magnetic dipolar and exchange interactions were registered at liquid helium temperatures. The characteristic for glass host broad bands corresponding to the 4f → 5d transitions of the Ce3+centres have been observed in the optical absorption and photoluminescence (emission and excitation) spectra. The obtained luminescence decay curves can be satisfactory described by exponential function with lifetimes in the 19.8-26.1 ns range, which depend on the basic glass composition. The local structure of Ce3+ centres in the investigated glasses has been considered and discussed.