Spectroscopic study of Sm:Ce ions co-doped in barium fluoroborate glass

Abstract

The spectroscopic properties of Sm, Ce and Sm:Ce doped in barium fluoroborate glasses are reported and discussed. Under 266 nm and 355 nm excitations, Ce 3+ ion emit broad blue emission due to 5d–4f transition however Sm doped glasses yield usual orange-red emissions due to 4f–4f transitions with modified intensity. Luminescence spectrum of Sm:Ce codoped glass sample reveals strong energy transfer from Ce 3+ to Sm 3+ ions. In Sm:Ce doped sample, emission intensities of Sm 3+ as well as of Ce 3+ bands are reduced considerably with 355 nm excitations, while intensities of Sm 3+ bands are enhanced under 266 nm excitations. The reduction in emission intensity on 355 nm excitations is verified with the formation of Ce 4+ and Sm 2+ ions while in case of 266 nm excitation, energy transfer from Ce 4+–O charge transfer state to Sm 3+ ion is expected to dominate. Formation of Sm 2+ on the cost of Sm 3+ ions was supported by luminescence dynamics measurements.