Structural and spectroscopic characteristics of Eu3+-doped tungsten phosphate glasses

• Published in: Optical materials 2015-07, Vol.45, p.185-190
• Main Authors: Dousti, M. Reza, Poirier, Gael Yves, de Camargo, Andrea Simone Stucchi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Eu3; Judd–Ofelt parameters; Tungsten phosphate glasses; UV–VIS spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0925-3467; 1873-1252
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2015.03.033

•Low cost tungsten phosphate glasses doped with Eu3+.•Spectroscopic characterization and Judd Ofelt analysis in the visible spectral region.•Potential materials for lasing and lighting applications in the red. Tungsten based phosphate glasses are interesting non-crystalline materials, commonly known for photochromic and electrochromic effects, but also promising hosts for luminescent trivalent rare earth ions. Despite very few reports in the literature, association of the host́s functionalities with the efficient emissions of the dopant ions in the visible and near-infrared spectra could lead to novel applications. This work reports the preparation and characterization of glasses with the new composition 4(Sb2O3)96−x(50WO3 50NaPO3)xEu2O3 where x=0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0mol%, obtained by the melt quenching technique. The glasses present large density (∼4.6gcm−3), high glass transition temperature (∼480°C) and high thermal stability against crystallization. Upon excitation at 464nm, the characteristic emissions of Eu3+ ions in the red spectral region are observed with high intensity. The Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters Ω2=6.86×10−20, Ω4=3.22×10−20 and Ω6=8.2×10−20cm2 were calculated from the emission spectra and found to be higher than those reported for other phosphate glass compositions. An average excited state lifetime value of 1.2ms, was determined by fitting the luminescence decay curves with single exponential functions and it is comparable or higher than those of other oxide glasses.