Structure, luminescence and energy transfer of Eu2,3+/Tb3+ co-doped transparent glass ceramics containing α-Ca3(PO4)2 nanocrystals

Abstract

Eu2,3+/Tb3+ co-doped transparent glass ceramics containing α-Ca3(PO4)2 nanocrystals were prepared through a phase-separation-controlled crystallization route. The XRD and TEM results revealed that α-Ca3(PO4)2 nanocrystals dispersed uniformly in the CaO–P2O5–SiO2–Al2O3–ZrO2 glass matrix, and grew gradually with increasing heat-treated temperature. Optical spectroscopy analysis confirmed the self-reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ in the Eu-doped samples, and the luminescence was tuned with increasing heat-treated temperature and doping concentration. Noticeably, Eu2+, Tb3+ and Eu3+ ions respectively behaved as the blue, green and red luminescent centers, and thus various emitting colors were easily obtained through adjusting the doping concentrations of rare earth ions. Besides, the energy transfer mechanism between Eu2+, Tb3+ and Eu3+ was discussed.