Luminescent characteristics of Tm3Â +/Tb3Â +/Eu3Â + tri-doped phosphate transparent glass ceramics for white LEDs

Tm3 +/Tb3 +/Eu3 + tri-doped transparent glass ceramics (GCs) are obtained via melt-quenching technique and subsequent heating of glass with composition of 20Na2O-42ZnO-28P2O5-9B2O3-1Sb2O3 (mol%). XRD and TEM results demonstrate that orthorhombic NaZnPO4 nanocrystals (NCs) are precipitated among the glass matrix. Under 362 nm excitation, the color tones of GCs change from light blue (0.3134, 0.3477) to warm white (0.3886, 0.3373) by altering concentration of Eu3 +. The energy transfer of Tm3 + → Eu3 + and Tb3 + → Eu3 + is confirmed by photoluminescence spectra and fluorescence decay curves. The results indicate that the as-prepared Tm3 +/Tb3 +/Eu3 + co-doped GCs is a potential matrix material for white light-emitting diodes under UV-LED excitation.