Energy transfer analysis and realization of cool to warm white light in Dy 3+ /Sm 3+ /Er 3+ triply doped multicomponent borosilicate glasses for white light generation.

A series of Dy3+ /Sm3+ /Er3+ triply doped multicomponent borosilicate glasses (DSE) was synthesized using varying Er3+ ions concentrations through a conventional melt quenching technique. The influence of triple doping on the optical characteristics of the prepared glass was evaluated to estimate the possibility of achieving white light emission through optical absorption, photoluminescence excitation (PLE), and emission (PL) measurements. Based on the PLE and PL spectral profiles, the presence of energy transfer processes between Dy3+ , Sm3+ , and Er3+ was confirmed. Furthermore, for Dy3+ /Sm3+ /Er3+ triply doped glass, an enhancement in Er3+ green luminescence and a noticeable decrease in Dy3+ and Sm3+ emissions were detected with the increase in Er3+ concentration. The nature of energy transfer in DSE glass was investigated through Dexter's energy transfer mechanisms and the obtained result suggested that a dipole-dipole interaction was responsible for the dominant Sm3+ to Dy3+ and Dy3+ to Er3+ energy transfer processes. The precise characteristic colours that emanated from the as-prepared samples were evaluated using Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage co-ordinates and correlated colour temperature values and suggested its suitability for white light emission. The quantum efficiency of the prepared glass was determined experimentally. The aforementioned results recommend that the Dy3+ /Sm3+ /Er3+ triply doped multicomponent borosilicate glass irradiated with ultraviolet light sources might be useful for the generation of cool/warm white light-emitting applications.