Intense visible fluorescence and energy transfer in Dy 3+, Tb 3+, Sm 3+ and Eu 3+ doped rare-earth borate glasses

Abstract

Tb 3+/Dy 3+ and Eu 3+/Sm 3+ doped rare-earth borate glasses have been synthesized and characterized. Under UV excitation, Dy 3+, Tb 3+, Sm 3+ and Eu 3+ emit intense yellowish white, green, reddish orange and red lights, respectively. In Tb 3+/Dy 3+ co-doped glasses, the enhancement of Tb 3+ green emission is observed, and the sensitization is related to the efficient energy transfer from Dy 3+ to Tb 3+. In Eu 3+/Sm 3+ co-doped glasses, the excitation wavelength range of Eu 3+ emission is broadened owing to the energy transfer from Sm 3+ to Eu 3+. This broadening makes the Ar + 488 nm wavelength laser a powerful excitation source for Eu 3+ fluorescence. The rare-earth doped glasses with various visible emissions are useful for developing new color light sources, fluorescent display devices, UV-sensor and tunable visible lasers.