Color-tunable luminescence and temperature sensing in Ce3+/Tb3+ co-doped transparent oxyfluoride glass-ceramics containing Na1.5Y2.5F9 nanocrystals

Abstract

Transparent glass-ceramics (GCs) containing Na1.5Y2.5F9 nanocrystals doped with Ce3+/Tb3+ were synthesized by melt-quenching approach. The nanocrystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction, and its distribution and morphology were observed by transmission electron microscope. Luminous characteristics, energy transfer, and temperature sensing performance were investigated. Under 312 nm light excitation, the Ce3+/Tb3+ co-doped Na1.5Y2.5F9 GCs exhibited a blue emission (Ce3+: 424 nm) and sensitized a green emission (Tb3+: 546 nm). The emission color can be adjusted from blue (0.1643, 0.0826) to green (0.2891, 0.5243) via adding Tb3+ ions. The energy transfer efficiencies from Ce3+ to Tb3+ can reach 33.3%. The temperature sensitivity of sample Na1.5Y2.5F9: 0.5Ce3+, 0.1 Tb3+ and sample Na1.5Y2.5F9: 0.5Ce3+, 1.0 Tb3+ were compared. Based on the fluorescence intensity ratio of the Ce3+ and Tb3+ emission, the absolute sensitivity, relative sensitivity, temperature resolution, and thermal repeatability were estimated to be 0.768% K−1, 0.603% K−1, 0.049 K, and 0.993, respectively. The results indicate that Na1.5Y2.5F9: Ce3+, Tb3+ GCs have immense application prospects for multicolor displays and temperature sensors.