Study of spectroscopy of Eu3+ and energy transfer from Ce3+ to Eu3+ in sodium-zinc-lead-borate glass

Abstract Eu3+ and Ce3+ singly doped as well as co-doped into sodium-zinc-lead-borate (NZPB) glass were prepared by the melt-quenching technique. Optical spectra including excitation, emission spectra of Ce3+ and Eu3+ as well as decay curves for the excitation levels were measured at room temperature. The optical properties and the application ability of Eu3+-doped NZPB glass were analyzed by Judd-Ofelt theory. The host referred binding energy (HRBE) schemes of divalent and trivalent rare earth ions in NZPB glass were constructed using the luminescence excitation spectra of Eu3+ and Ce3+ ions. In the NZPB glass co-doped with Ce3+ and Eu3+ ions, the luminescence intensity and lifetime of the Ce3+:5d1 level decrease with the increasing Eu3+concentration. The luminescence quenching and lifetime of the Ce3+:5d1 level are related to two mechanisms of the resonance energy transfer and electron transfer. These transfer mechanisms were discussed in detail by using the 4fn:Ln3+ energy diagrams and the HRBE schemes.