Fluorescence properties of valence-controlled Eu2+ and Mn2+ ions in aluminosilicate glasses

Abstract Controlling of valence states of metal ions doped in glasses has attracted considerable interest due to the possibility of looking toward optical applications. In this study, new Na 2 O-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 glasses were developed to dope Eu 2+ and Mn 2+ with well controlled valence states by heating in H 2 gas atmosphere, and the changes in the valence state of doped-ions and their fluorescence properties were investigated using visible and infrared optical absorption spectroscopies, X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Among Eu 3+ , Mn 3+ and Mn 2+ ions incorporated in the as-prepared glasses, the Eu 3+ and Mn 3+ ions were reduced to Eu 2+ and Mn 2+ ions, respectively, by heating in H 2 gas and OH bonds were concurrently formed. The fluorescence spectra of glasses heated in H 2 exhibited broad emission bands at 450 and 630 nm wavelength, assigned to the Eu 2+ and Mn 2+ , respectively, ions, in which the fluorescence intensity at 450 nm was observed to decrease with increasing Mn 2+ ion content. The increased fluorescence intensities were analyzed as the energy transfer from Eu 2+ to Mn 2+ ions and the energy transfer efficiency was estimated with a concentration of Eu 2+ and Mn 2+ ions.