Photoluminescence of Tb3+-doped LiF–BaF2–Lu2O3–Al2O3–SiO2 glasses

Abstract

LiF–BaF 2 –Lu 2 O 3 –Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 glasses doped with Tb 3+ ions were obtained by melt–quenching technique, and their transmission and photoluminescence properties were investigated. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and luminescence decay profiles of these prepared samples have been obtained to confirm their structure and luminescence dynamics. The prepared oxyfluoride glasses doped with Tb 3+ ions exhibit high transmittance in the visible light region, and the UV absorption edge appears red-shifted as the Tb 2 O 3 content increases in the LiF–BaF 2 –Lu 2 O 3 –Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 oxyfluoride glasses. Under UV excitation, the Tb 3+ ions emissions corresponding to 5 D 3 ( 5 D 4 ) → 7 F J ( J = 6–3) electron transitions can be detected. With the increase of Tb 2 O 3 content, the green light emission intensities caused by the Tb 3+ ions 5 D 4 → 7 F J ( J = 6–3) electron transitions are enhanced, while the blue light emission intensities induced by the Tb 3+ ions 5 D 3 → 7 F J ( J = 6–3) electron transitions first increased to the maximum until the introduction of Tb 2 O 3 was equal to 0.3 mol, and then decreased with the Tb 2 O 3 content further increase. The mechanism involved in the resonance energy transfer (RET) process between Tb 3+ – Tb 3+ ions was explained with an energy level diagram. And the luminescence decay times of Tb 3+ ions electron transition originated from 5 D 4 energy level continue to decrease from 3.171 to 2.250 ms with increasing Tb 2 O 3 content in the LiF–BaF 2 –Lu 2 O 3 –Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 glasses. • Tb 3+ –doped scintillating glasses. • Intense emission under UV excitation. • Decay time in order of ms from 545 nm emission.