Luminescence properties and energy transfer of Eu/Tb ions codoped aluminoborosilicate glasses

Eu/Tb codoped aluminoborosilicate glasses were fabricated by high temperature melting-quenched technique and their luminescence properties were investigated by excitation and emission spectra. Under 376 nm excitation, blue, green and red emission bands were simultaneously observed at 425 nm, 485 nm, 540 nm and 611 nm, respectively. The broad blue emission band centered at 425 nm was originated from the reduced Eu2+ ions, which were reduced from Eu3+ ions at high temperature in an ambient atmosphere and the reduction process may be related with the optical basicity of glass matrix. A complex bright white light emission was obtained for 0.5 mol% Eu2O3, 0.5 mol% Tb2O3 codoped aluminoborosilicate glass with CIE-X = 0.31 and CIE-Y = 0.33. The energy transfer among Eu3+, Eu2+ and Tb3+ ions was also discussed.

Research Highlights► A part of Eu3+ ions was reduced to Eu2+ ions at high temperature in an ambient atmosphere. ► The reduction process may be related with the optical basicity of glass matrix. ► A complex bright white light emission was obtained in the Eu/Tb codoped aluminoborosiliate glass.