Luminescence and energy transfer of Eu2+/Mn2+ co-doped SiO2–Al2O3–ZnO–K2O glass ceramics for white LEDs

Abstract

Abstract Transparent Eu 2+ /Mn 2+ co-doped new glass ceramics (GC) containing β - Zn 2 SiO 4 nanocrystals were prepared under a reduced atmosphere. The optical properties of these samples have been investigated. The emission spectra of Eu 2+ /Mn 2+ co-doped glass ceramics show two broadband peakings at 458 and 560 nm under ultraviolet radiation, which can be attributed to 4 f 6 5 d 1 →4 f 7 transition of Eu 2+ and 4 T 1 ( 4 G ) → 6 A 1 ( 6 S ) transition of Mn 2+ , respectively. Energy transfer (ET) from Eu 2+ to Mn 2+ is discovered by directly observing significant overlap of the excitation spectrum of Mn 2+ and the emission spectrum of Eu 2+ . ET from Eu 2+ to Mn 2+ in glass ceramics is further confirmed by fluorescence studies performed on the samples with various activator (Mn 2+ ) concentrations. The optimal composition generates white light with chromaticity coordinates (0.291, 0.344). The results indicate that Eu 2+ /Mn 2+ co-doped glass ceramics is potential material for white light-emitting diodes (LEDs).