Tb3+ doped Zinc Alumino Bismuth Borate glasses for green emitting luminescent devices

Zinc Alumino Bismuth Borate (ZnAlBiB) glasses doped with terbium (Tb3+) ions with a chemical composition 20ZnO-10Al2O3-(10−x)Bi2O3-60B2O3−xTb2O3 (x=0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mol%) were prepared by a conventional melt quenching method and studied their optical absorption, photoluminescence and decay spectral properties. The Judd-Ofelt (J-O) parameters evaluated from the experimental oscillator strengths were used to measure the radiative properties for the prominent luminescent transitions of Tb3+ ions such as 5D4→7F6, 7F5, 7F4 and 7F3. The effect of Tb3+ ion concentration on the luminescence process observed in the visible region was discussed in detail. The emission spectra recorded for all the ZnAlBiB glasses doped with Tb3+ ions, show an intense peak in green region at 542 nm. The stimulated emission cross-section, branching ratios and quantum efficiency values evaluated for green emission (5D4→7F5) suggests the utility of these glasses for green luminescence applications. It was found that, within the concentration range investigated, 2.5 mol% of Tb3+ doped ZnAlBiB glass is most suitable for green luminescence applications at 542 nm in principle.