Study of Eu3+–Gd3+ co-doped Ba–Bi–B glasses for red-laser applications: Physical, structural, photoluminescence and time-resolved spectral characteristics

Abstract

A series of Eu3+ and Eu3+/Gd3+ co-doped barium-bismuth-borate (Ba–Bi–B) glasses were prepared by melt-quench technique. And deliberated the physical, structural, and spectroscopic properties of all glasses and explored the energy transfer process from Gd3+ to Eu3+ ions. The density of glasses increased with increasing of Gd3+ concentration in co-doped glasses. Characteristics of steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) of Eu-doped and Eu3+-Gd3+ co-doped glasses under different excitation wavelengths suggested the prospects of the investigated glass system for display device applications. PL spectrum displays a strong red emission peak centered at 612 nm due to the Eu3+: 5D0→ 7F2 transition. Less intense emissions centered at 577 nm (7F0), 590 nm (7F1), 651 nm (7F3) and 700 nm (7F4) are also observed from the radiative transitions of the excited state 5D0 of Eu3+ions. The values of radiative parameters such as transition probability, branching ratios, and stimulated emission cross-sections were obtained from Judd–Ofelt theory analysis and indicated the aptness of the Ba–Bi–B glasses for optical devices. A 5-fold enhancement in the PL intensity was observed in 1.0 mol% Eu3+ and 3.0 mol% Gd3+ co-doped glass under λExci. = 394 nm excitation. The calculated commission Internationale de l'eclairage color coordinates and correlated color temperature values show that the Ba–Bi–B glasses are useful for red-laser and display device applications.