Optical properties of (ZnO)0.5(P2O5)0.5 glasses doped with Gd2O3:Eu nanoparticles and Eu2O3

Binary (ZnO)_0.5(P₂O₅)_0.5 glasses doped with Eu₂O₃ and nanoparticles of Gd₂O₃:Eu were prepared by conventional melt-quench method and their luminescence properties were compared. Undoped (ZnO)_0.5(P₂O₅)_0.5 glass is characterized by a luminescent defect centre (similar to L-centre present in Na₂O-SiO₂ glasses) with emission around 324 nm and having an excited state lifetime of 18 ns. Such defect centres can transfer the energy to Eu³⁺ ions leading to improved Eu³⁺ luminescence from such glasses. Based on the decay curves corresponding to the ⁵D₀ level of Eu³⁺ ions in both Gd₂O₃:Eu nanoparticles incorporated as well as Eu₂O₃ incorporated glasses, a significant clustering of Eu³⁺ ions taking place with the latter sample is confirmed. From the lifetime studies of the excited state of L-centre emission from (ZnO)_0.5(P₂O₅)_0.5 glass doped with Gd₂O₃:Eu nanoparticles, it is established that there exists weak energy transfer from L-centres to Eu³⁺ ions. Poor energy transfer from the defect centres to Eu³⁺ ions in Gd₂O₃:Eu nanoparticles doped (ZnO)_0.5(P₂O₅)_0.5 glass has been attributed to effective shielding of Eu³⁺ ions from the luminescence centre by Gd-O-P type of linkages, leading to an increased distance between luminescent centre and Eu³⁺ ions.