Tunable photoluminescence studies of KZABS: RE3+ (RE3+ = Tm3+, Tb3+ and Sm3+) glasses for w-LEDs based on energy transfer

Abstract

Here singly and tri-doped (Tm3+, Tb3+, and Sm3+) borosilicate glasses in potassium Zinc alumino borosilicate (KZABS) glasses were prepared by using the melt quenching technique. The tri-doped as-prepared KZABS glasses were characterized through photoluminescence (PL) emission and PL decay to demonstrate red (Sm3+), green (Tb3+) and blue (Tm3+) colors simultaneously and white light realization by varying the Sm3+ ion concentration under 356 nm excitation. The energy transfer mechanism from Tm3+ to Tb3+ (1G4 to 5D4), Tm3+ to Sm3+ (1G4 to 4G7/2), and Tb3+ to Sm3+ (5D4 to 4G7/2) are confirmed by the lifetime values. The I–H model fitted with non-exponential decay curves reveals the dipole-dipole interaction. The temperature-dependent PL (TDPL) measurement and corresponding CIE points demonstrate the thermal stability of the as-prepared glasses. CIE coordinates and CCT values were observed near the standard white light (0.333, 0.333, and 5500 K). The results obtained reveal that Tm3+/Tb3+/Sm3+ tri-doped KZABS glasses could be a potential candidate for the fabrication of visible RGB luminescent materials, display devices and w-LEDs.