Enhancement of Eu3+ photoluminescence in sodium-aluminosilicate glasses by silver molecular clusters formed with Na+-Ag+ ion exchange method

Abstract

Subject of Research. The paper considers the interaction of silver molecular clusters with trivalent europium ions in ion- exchanged layers of sodium-aluminosilicate glasses. Method. Glasses based on Na2O–ZnO–Al2O3–SiO2–F system anddoped with Sb2O3 and Eu2О3 were synthesized for the study. Silver ions were introduced into the synthesized glasses by low-temperature Na+–Ag+ ion exchange method; glass samples were immersed in a bath containing a melt of nitrate mixture 5AgNO3/95NaNO3 (mol%) at 320 °C for 15 minutes. To promote the growth of silver molecular clusters in ion-exchanged samples they were heat-treated at 350–450 °С for 20 hours. Heat treatment temperature was 500 °С for obtaining silver nanoparticles in the samples. Main Results. We have studied the spectral-luminescent properties of sodium-aluminosilicate glasses doped with silver molecular clusters and trivalent europium ions in ion-exchanged layers. Luminescence intensity of Eu3+ ions in the ion-exchanged glass with silver molecular clusters was found out to exceed considerably the intensity in the as-synthesized glass. Glass samples heat-treated at 450 °С are characterized by maximal emission intensity of silver molecular clusters and europium ions. Quenching of the luminescence was observed for the samples containing silver nanoparticles. Practical Relevance. Obtained results can be applied for developing phosphors in glass for LEDs and down-converters of ultraviolet radiation for solar cells