Emission properties and temperature dependence of Cu+ luminescence in the CaO-CaF2-P2O5 ternary glass system co-doped with CuO and SnO

Co-doping of the (50−x)CaO-xCaF2-50P2O5 (x=0,10, and 20) ternary glass system with CuO and SnO has been realized by the melt-quenching technique with the purpose of investigating on material photoluminescence (PL). The glasses display tunable luminescence by variation of excitation wavelength in connection with the distinct excitation/emission properties of Cu+ ions and Sn centers. Substitution of CaO by CaF2 appeared to support the Cu+ luminescence process. Analyses of emission decay dynamics suggest that both luminescent species exist primarily coordinated to oxygen atoms in the oxyfluorophosphate hosts. Further, the effect of temperature on Cu+ PL was evaluated from room temperature to 300 °C. An increase in the activation energy for the thermal quenching of Cu+ PL was observed upon the substitution of oxygen by fluorine ions. Accordingly, the Cu+-doped oxyfluorophosphate matrix shows potential as thermally-stable glass for optical device applications (e.g. lighting, solar cells).