Synthesis and Photoluminescent Properties of Dy3+-Doped and Dy3+/Eu3+ Co-Doped 50ZnO:40B2O3:5WO3:Nb2O5 Glass

Abstract

Dy3+ single-doped and Dy3+/Eu3+ co-doped ZnO:B2O3:WO3:Nb2O5 glass was successfully synthesized using the melt quenching method. The amorphous character of the prepared samples was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The glass transition and crystallization temperatures were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Raman spectroscopy was applied to investigate the glass microstructure. Physical properties like the density, molar volume, oxygen molar volume and oxygen packing density of the glass were also determined. The photoluminescence excitation (PLE) and emission (PL) spectra of the resultant glass types were measured. The obtained Dy3+ single-doped glass was characterized by strong luminescence at 482 and 574 nm, corresponding to the 4F9/2 → 6H15/2 (blue) and 4F9/2 → 6H13/2 (yellow) transitions, respectively, and weak luminescence at 663 nm and 753 nm due to the 4F9/2 → 6H11/2 (red) and 4F9/2 → 6H9/2 + 6F11/2 (red) transitions. The luminescence results indicate that energy transfer from the Dy3+ to Eu3+ ions occurs in the proposed glass system. The emitted light from the Dy3+ single-doped glass was found to be yellow-orange. The Dy3+/Eu3+ co-doped samples emitted darker orange light. The obtained results show that the investigated types of glass have the potential to be used as orange light-emitting materials.