Synthesis and optical spectroscopy of borate glasses, doped with terbium and dysprosium

Abstract

The high optical quality glasses with CaB4O 7 :Tb, LiCaBO 3 :Tb, CaB 4 O 7 :Dy, and LiCaBO 3 :Dy compositions containing 0.5 and 1.0 mol. % Tb 2 O 3 and Dy 2 O 3 have been obtained. By electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical spectroscopy it was shown that the Tb and Dy impurities are incorporated in the CaB 4 O 7 and LiCaBO 3 glass network as Tb3+ (4f8, 7F 6 ) and Dy3+ (4f9, 6H 15/2 ) ions, exclusively. All observed f - f transitions of Tb3+ and Dy3+ centres in optical absorption, luminescence excitation and emission spectra have been identified. Luminescence kinetic shows single exponential decay for Tb3+ and Dy3+ centres in the CaB 4 O 7 and LiCaBO 3 glasses. Lifetimes for main emitting levels of Tb3+ and Dy3+ centres in all investigated glasses were determined at T = 300 K. Spectroscopy shows that obtained glasses are promising luminescent materials.