Photoluminescence downshifting studies of thermally stable Dy3+ ions doped phosphate glasses for photonic device applications

Abstract

Trivalent dysprosium (Dy3+) activated barium zinc lithium phosphate (BaZnLiP) glasses were prepared by employing melt quench routes. To understand the possible applicability of the prepared glasses in photonic device applications, numerous structural, optical, and radiative characteristics have been explored in detail. The non-crystalline character of BaZnLiP glass has been confirmed with the help of an X-ray diffraction pattern. The titled glasses doped with Dy3+ ions show several absorption peaks in the 330–1800 nm range with an indirect optical band gap of 3.41–3.76 eV. The Judd-Ofelt (J-O) theory was employed on the absorption profiles and estimated various radiative parameters for the Dy3+ ions activated BaZnLiP glasses. The Dy3+ ions activated glasses exhibit intense excitation at 350 nm and three sharp visible emissions at blue (4F9/2 → 6H15/2), yellow (4F9/2 → 6H13/2), and red (4F9/2 → 6H11/2). To ascertain the lasing potentialities of BaZnLiP glasses, the stimulated emission cross-section and branching ratios have been assessed by correlating the emission spectral information with the radiative parameters calculated from the absorption spectral features. The colorimetric properties show the coordinates situated in a bright white region. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence (TD-PL) spectral features recorded revealed the thermal stability of the as-prepared glasses. The explored distinctive features for Dy3+ ions activated BaZnLiP glasses suggested the superiority and direct utility of the as-prepared glasses in advanced photonic device applications such as lasers and w-LEDs.