Enhancement of Tb3+ emission by non-radiative energy transfer from Dy3+ in silicate glass

A study of energy transfer was performed in dysprosium–terbium-doped silicate glasses at room temperature. Enhancement of the Tb3+ emission and a decrease in the Dy3+ emission are observed as a result of energy transfer from Dy3+ ions to Tb3+ ions. The energy transfer efficiencies, transfer probabilities, as well as average donor–acceptor distances were also calculated. It is concluded that the energy transfer mechanism between Dy3+ and Tb3+ ion is mainly electric dipole–dipole in nature.