White Light Emission Characteristics of Tb3+/Sm3+ Co-Doped Glass Ceramics Containing YPO4 Nanocrystals

The Tb3+/Sm3+ single-doped and co-doped glasses and glass ceramics containing YPO4 nanocrystals have been synthesized by melt quenching method. The structural and luminescent properties of these glass specimens were investigated. Under 375 nm wavelength excitation, the emission spectra combined with blue, green and red bands were observed, which achieved the white light emission. Moreover, the energy transfer between Tb3+ and Sm3+ ions was validated by decay lifetime measurement and energy level diagram. The color coordinates (x = 0.333, y = 0.333), correlated color temperature (5595 K) and the color rendering index (Ra=80.5) indicated that the glass ceramics were considered to be good lighting source. Hence, the YPO4-based Tb3+/Sm3+ co-doped glass ceramics can act as potential matrix materials for white light-emitting diodes under ultraviolet excitation.