The synthesis of rare earth borate glasses and their luminescence properties

Abstract

The synthesis and luminescence properties of various kind of rare earth borate glass were studied. These glasses were obtained by melting the mixture of H 3BO 3, ZnO and R 2O 3 (where R is rare earth) at 1150–1250°C for 2–3 hours. There are eight rare earth ions: Ce 3+, Pr 3+, Sm 3+, Eu 3+, Tb 3+, Dy 3+, Er 3+ and Tm 3+ which give emission in the visible region of spectrum. The non-radiative transition probability and quantum efficiency were estimated from the measured decay times. The study of excitation spectra of doubly doped glasses indicates that energy transfers from Pr 3+, Sm 3+, Gd 3+ to Eu 3+ and from Ce 3+, Gd 3+, Dy 3+ to Tb 3+.