Photoluminescence properties of rare-earth ion-doped Na5YSi4O12-based glass ceramics

Abstract

We developed herein photoluminescent glass ceramics based on rare-earth ion-doped Na5YSi4O12-type materials according to the Na3+3xY1−x−yRySi3O9 (R: Sm3+, Eu3+, Dy3+, Tb3+) composition. Glass ceramics generally have the advantages of excellent chemical durability, heat resistance, and moldability over sintered ceramics. Upon irradiation with near-ultraviolet light, Sm3+-, Eu3+-, Dy3+-, and Tb3+-doped glass ceramics emit purplish orange, reddish orange, yellow, and green lights, respectively. The photoluminescent emission intensity of glass ceramics is higher than that of the original glasses, and the emission intensity depends on the crystalline phase. The highest emission intensity of various rare-earth ion-doped glass ceramics is obtained when the parameter y is equal to 0.03, 0.16, and 0.02 for the Sm3+-, Eu3+-, and Dy3+-doped glass ceramic samples, respectively. The internal quantum efficiency is 3%, 37%, 7% and 23% for the Sm3+-, Eu3+-, Dy3+-, and Tb3+-doped samples, respectively. Thus the Na superionic conducting Na5YSi4O12-type glass-ceramics were proved to have potentiality as novel phosphors.