Prospects of Sol-Gel Process for Spectral Hole-Burning Glasses

Persistent spectral hole burning was studied in Eu³⁺ ions-doped Al₂O₃-SiO₂ glass prepared by a sol-gel method. The gel synthesized by the hydrolysis of Si- and Al-alkoxides and EuCl₃·6H₂O was heated in air and hydrogen gas atmospheres. For the glass heated in air to contain OH bonds, the hole was formed by the photoinduced rearrangement of the OH bonds surrounding the Eu³⁺ ions, and was thermally refilled and erased above 200 K. On the other hand, the glass heated in hydrogen gas showed the hole spectrum above 200 K. It was found that the hole depth was independent of the temperature and was 7% of the total intensity at room temperature. The proposed mechanism was the electron transfer between the Eu³⁺ ions and the defect centers formed in glass matrix.     

Spectral Hole-Burning in Femtosecond Laser-Irradiated Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-Doped Aluminosilicate Glasses

We studied the persistent spectral hole-burning (PSHB) of the Eu³⁺-doped Al₂O₃-SiO₂ glasses, prepared by a sol–gel process, exposed to femtosecond laser pulses. The spectral holes were burned in the excitation spectra of the ⁷F₀⁵D₀ transition of Eu³⁺ ion. The depth and width of the burned holes were 15% and 2.5 cm^–1 fwhm at 7 K, respectively. The burned hole is stable up to room temperature. Fluorescence line narrowing spectra showed that Eu³⁺ ions were located in two different sites.     

Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-fluorescence properties in nano-crystallized SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> glass-ceramics

Fluorescence and spectral hole burning properties of Eu³⁺ ions were studied in nanocrystals-precipitated SnO₂-SiO₂ glasses. The glasses were prepared to contain various amount of Eu₂O₃ using the sol-gel method, in which SnO₂ nanocrystals were precipitated by heating in air. In the glasses containing Eu₂O₃ less than 1%, the Eu³⁺ ions were preferentially doped in the SnO₂ nanocrystals and their fluorescence intensities were enhanced by the energy transfer due to the recombination of electrons and holes excited in SnO₂ crystals. The SnO₂ nanocrystals-precipitated glasses exhibited the persistent spectral holes with the depth of ∼25% of the total fluorescence intensities of the Eu³⁺ ions. With the increasing Eu₂O₃ concentration, the amount of SnO₂ nanocrystals decreased and the Sn⁴⁺ ions formed the random glass structure together with the silica network. This structure change induced the fluorescence intensities and the hole depth to decrease.     

Thermal study in Eu3+-doped boehmite nanofibers and luminescence properties of the corresponding Eu3+:Al2O3

Eu³⁺-doped boehmite nanofiber materials with different Eu³⁺ concentrations were synthesized without any surfactant, and followed by a series of characterizations. It was found that the boehmite nanofibers became coarser with the increase of Eu³⁺ concentration, which resulted in a gradual decrease of their specific surface areas. Moreover, the thermal stability of the boehmite nanofibers was studied by thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry. All materials showed the phase transition from γ-Al₂O₃ to other forms. Yet the transition temperature was increased with the increase of Eu³⁺ concentration. The Eu³⁺-doped boehmite nanofibers with the maximum Eu³⁺ concentrations showed the best thermal stability. Photoluminescence spectra showed that the 2 mol% of doping concentration of Eu³⁺ ions in Eu³⁺:Al₂O₃ nanofiber was optimum.     

Solubility enhancement of Nd7+ in scandium-substituted rare earth-aluminum garnets

An increased solubility of Nd³⁺ in YAG has been achieved by means of expansion of its crystal lattice with Sc³⁺ ions substituting for Al³⁺ ions in the octahedral sites. A number of other scandium substituted rare earth aluminum garnets of general formula {R₃}[Sc₂](Al₃)O₁₂ have been prepared and results are compared with similar compounds in {R₃}[Sc₂](Fe₃)O₁₂ systems. It is shown that the expansion of the YAG lattice by octahedral substitution significantly increases the solubility of Nd³⁺ on dodecahedral sites. The results of substitution of Sc in other rare earth-aluminum systems appear to be consistent with results obtained in the yttrium-aluminum system and so ions bigger than Gd³⁺, such as Eu³⁺ and Sm³⁺, can form garnets {Eu₃}[Sc₂](Al₃)O₁₂ and {Sm₃}[Sc₂](Al₃)O₁₂.     

Radioluminescence of Europium(III) in POCl3–SnCl4–235UO2+ 2–Eu3+, and D2O–235UO2+ 2–Eu3+ Solutions

Results of studying the spectral and luminescent properties of Eu³⁺ ions upon homogeneous excitation of POCl₃–SnCl₄–^-UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺ and D₂O–²³⁵UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺ solutions by -particles are presented. It was found that the radioluminescence intensity of Eu³⁺ ions in both solvents increases proportionally to the energy input by -particles. The yield of radioluminescence photons from europium ions in the POCl₃–SnCl₄–UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺ solutions is more than nine times as high as that in D₂O–UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺. The radiation-chemical yields of excited ⁵ D ₀ states of Eu³⁺ ions are 0.74 ± 0.07 and 0.18 ± 0.02 ions/100 eV in POCl₃–SnCl₄–UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺ and D₂O–UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺ solutions, respectively.     

Synthesis and spectral characteristics of Sr2Y8(SiO4)6O2: Eu polycrystals

Spectral-luminescent characteristics of Sr₂Y₈(SiO₄)₆O₂: Eu powder crystal phosphor with the apatite structure and high-intensity luminescence of Eu³⁺ ions have been studied. The charge state of europium in the samples has been characterized by means of X-ray L₃-adsorption spectroscopy. It was established that Eu³⁺ forms two types of optical centers. Besides, luminescence of Eu²⁺ions was found. Reduction Eu³⁺→Eu²⁺ was considered, which may be due to vacancy formation in the 4f crystal lattice position and to negative charge transfer by this vacancy to two ions. Thus, in the silicate lattice there exist inhomogeneously distributed oxygen-deficient centers, which are responsible for nonradiative transfer of excitation energy to Eu³⁺ and Eu²⁺ ions. To study electron-vibrational interactions in the crystal phosphor samples, their IR and Raman spectra were examined. In the luminescence spectrum of Eu²⁺, a series of low-intensity bands caused by interaction of the 4f⁶5d state of Eu²⁺ with silicate lattice vibrations was observed.     

Optical Spectroscopy and Excited-State Dynamics of Eu3+-Doped Bismuth Borate Glasses Containing CuO

Bismuth borate glasses containing phosphors and luminescent rare-earths are of interest for applications in light-emitting devices. Herein, the influence of CuO impurities on red-emitting Eu³⁺-doped bismuth borate glasses of the 25Bi₂O₃-15BaO-10Li₂O-50B₂O₃ type was investigated by various spectroscopic methods. The glasses were prepared by the melt-quench technique and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV/Vis optical absorption (OA), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy including decay kinetics assessment. The XRD data confirmed the amorphous nature of the glasses whereas FT-IR spectra indicated the basic structural features of trigonal BO₃ units and BO₄ tetrahedra. The OA analysis showed that addition of CuO up to 0.5 mol% results in significant growth of the visible Cu²⁺ absorption band around 715 nm, with slight decrease in the optical band gap energies assessed through Tauc plots. A drastic PL quenching of Eu³⁺ ions emission was evidenced concurring with the detrimental effect of Cu²⁺. The assessment of the Eu³⁺ emission decay curves revealed significant lifetime decrease of the ⁵D₀ emitting state with increasing CuO concentration. An analysis of quenching constants was finally performed comparing results from integrated PL data with the emission decay rates. It is argued that the bismuth borate glass system supports an effective Eu³⁺→Cu²⁺ energy transfer (more so than phosphates) in connection with a strong spectral overlap between Eu³⁺ emission and Cu²⁺ absorption.     

Structural studies of copper-containing multicomponent glasses from the SiO2–P2O5–K2O–CaO–MgO system

Multicomponent glasses from the SiO₂–P₂O₅–K₂O–MgO–CaO–CuO system acting as slow release fertilizers were synthesized by the melt-quenching technique. The influence of CuO and P₂O₅ addition on the structure of glasses was evaluated by FTIR, Raman, ³¹P, and ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectroscopies. The studies showed that the Cu²⁺ ions displacing Ca²⁺ ions and Mg²⁺ ions in the structure of glass prefer to associate with the phosphorus Q¹ species, forming the Q⁰ species with chemically stable POCu bonds. This is accompanied by the reduction of the degree of polymerization of the phospho-oxygen sub-network, with a simultaneous increased degree of polymerization of the silico-oxygen sub-network of the silicate–phosphate glasses.     

The role of ligand coordination on the spectral features of Yb3+ ions in lead aluminum silicate glasses

The glasses of the composition (40 ? x)PbO–(5 + x)Al₂O₃–54SiO₂:1.0Yb₂O₃ (in mol%) with x ranging from 5 to 10 have been synthesized. The IR spectral studies of these glasses have indicated that there is a gradual transformation of Al³⁺ ions from tetrahedral to octahedral coordination with increase of Al₂O₃ content in the glass network. The optical absorption and luminescence spectra have exhibited bands originating from ²F_7/2 → ²F_5/2 and ²F_5/2 → ²F_7/2 transitions, respectively. From these spectra, the absorption and emission cross-sections and fluorescence lifetime of Yb³⁺ ions have been evaluated. Quantitative analysis of these data indicated a decreasing radiative trapping and increasing fluorescence lifetime of Yb³⁺ ions with increasing Al₂O₃ content. This may be explained by structural variations in the vicinity of Yb³⁺ ions due to variation in the concentration of Al₂O₃ in the glass network.     

Photocurable silica hybrid organic–inorganic films for photonic applications

This paper reports the detailed preparation process of Eu²⁺ activated Sr₃Al₂O₆ by a sol-gel method in the reducing atmosphere. The effect of the calcining temperature on the microstructure, crystalline particle morphology and luminescence properties of Sr₃Al₂O₆:Eu²⁺ is systematically discussed. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence spectrophotometer were employed to characterize the phosphor. The Sr₃Al₂O₆:Eu²⁺ phosphor powders calcined at 1200 °C for 2 h possessed a Sr₃Al₂O₆ single cubic phase. The Sr₃Al₂O₆:Eu²⁺ crystallites showed flower-like morphology. The Sr₃Al₂O₆:Eu²⁺ phosphor powders exhibited a red broad emission band with emission peak at 612 nm under 472 nm excitation. Especially the Sr₃Al₂O₆:Eu²⁺ phosphor powders prepared at 1200 °C showed the strongest luminescence intensity, due to the pure phase and higher crystallinity of Sr₃Al₂O₆.     

Synthesis and Luminescence of Europium-Containing Compositions Based on Yttrium Oxide and Oxyfluorides

By heating the products isolated from an ethyl acetate medium, luminescent europium-containing compositions based on yttrium oxyfluorides and oxide have been synthesized. The concentration of Eu³⁺ ions in the compositions was from 0.10 to 10 at % of the yttrium content. It has been shown that the (Eu_хY_1–х)_nO_n–1F_{n + 2}, (Eu_хY_1–х)OF, (Eu_хY_1–х)₂O₃, and (Eu_хY_1–х)5O₄F₇ phases are formed during the synthesis. The luminescence of the compositions is related to the ⁵D₀ → ⁷F_j electron transitions of Eu³⁺ ions. It depends on the synthesis conditions, the type of matrix, the position of the Eu³⁺ ions in the crystal lattice, the excitation wavelength, and other factors.     

Luminescence and energy transfer in a highly symmetrical system: Eu2Ti2O7

Luminescence and energy transfer properties of Gd₂Ti₂O₇: Eu and Eu₂Ti₂O₇ are reported. Transfer between unperturbed (intrinsic) Eu³⁺ ions and perturbed (extrinsic) Eu³⁺ ions has been observed. At low temperatures the emission spectra of Eu₂Ti₂O₇ are dominated by trap emission, due to direct energy transfer from the intrinsic Eu³⁺ ions to the extrinsic Eu³⁺ ions. Above 10 K energy migration among the Eu³⁺ ions to quenching centers occurs. The interaction between the Eu³⁺ ions is probably exchange in character. The nature of the extrinsic Eu³⁺ ions has been elucidated.     

Mössbauer Spectroscopic Study of xNa2O·5Fe2O3·(95-x)B2O3 Glasses (x=10–35)

A study of xNa₂O·5Fe₂O₃·(95-x)B₂O₃ glasses(x = 10–35) by Mössbauer spectroscopy was carried out in order to elucidate the effect of non-bridging oxygen (NBO) on Mössbauer parameters for Fe³⁺ ions. From the change of the isomer shift and quadrupole splitting, it was found that the Fe³⁺ ions in these borate glasses constitute FeO₄ tetrahedra and play a role of network former. These Mössbauer parameters reflect well the formation of NBO when N₂O contents is larger than 20 mol%. From the measurements of absorption area at low temperature, the _D values for Fe³⁺ ions in 10Na₂O·5Fe₂O₃·85B₂O₃ and 35Na₂O·5Fe₂O₃·60B₂O₃ glasses were determined to be 320 and 289 K, respectively. The decrease of _D value from 320 to 289 K is ascribed to the NBO which was formed by the breaking of -B-O-B- bonds.     

Controlled synthesis and luminescent properties of Eu(Eu), Dy-doped Sr3Al2O6 phosphors by hydrothermal treatment and postannealing approach

In this work, Sr₃Al₂O₆: Eu²⁺ (Eu³⁺), Dy³⁺ phosphors have been prepared by hydrothermal treatment and subsequently postannealing approach, using Sr(NO₃)₂, Al(NO₃)₃·9H₂O, and CO(NH₂)₂ as starting materials. The as-obtained phosphors were characterized by means of XRPD, FESEM, and PL techniques. In addition, many reaction parameters were studied in detail, including the initial mole ratios, hydrothermal reaction temperature, calcination temperature and calcination atmosphere. Remarkably, two scientific merits exist herein: Sr₃Al₂O₆: Eu²⁺ (Eu³⁺), Dy³⁺ phosphors can be selectively obtained in a reducing atmosphere (H₂/Ar, 20%+80%) and in air, respectively; adding certain amount of sodium citrate can alter the shape and size of Sr₃Al₂O₆: Eu²⁺ (Eu³⁺), Dy³⁺ phosphors in essence. Besides, the luminescent properties of Sr₃Al₂O₆: Eu²⁺ (Eu³⁺), Dy³⁺ phosphors were studied by excitation spectra, emission spectra and decay curves.     

Geordnete Oktaederbesetzung in Ba6La2Al1,5Fe2,5O15

Ordered Occupation of Octahedra in Ba₆La₂Al_1,5Fe_2,5O₁₅ Ba₆La₂Al_1.5Fe_2.5O₁₅ was prepared and investigated by X-ray single crystal technique. It crystallizes in the space group C – P6₃mc; a = 11.814, c = 7.1003 Å; Z = 2. The M³⁺O₆ octahedra are occupied exclusively by Fe³⁺ ions, the M³⁺O₄ tetrahedra in contrast are statistically filled by Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺ ions. Ba₆La₂Al_1.5Fe_2.5O₁₅ is a partially ordered mixed crystal of the pure iron and aluminium compounds.     

Sol-Gel Processing of Sm2+-Doped Glass and Its Spectral Hole Burning at Room Temperature

The sol-gel process was applied to the preparation of Sm²⁺ ion-doped silicate glasses, which show persistent spectral hole burning at room temperature. The gels synthesized by the hydrolysis of metal alkoxides and SmCl₃·6H₂O were heated in air at 500°C, were then reacted with H₂ gas to form the Sm²⁺ ion. The Al₂O₃−SiO₂2 glasses are appropriate to reduce the Sm³⁺ ion with H₂ gas and show intense photoluminescence of Sm²⁺ ion. Persistent spectra hole burning was observed in the excitation spectrum for the⁷F₀→⁵D₀ transition of the Sm²⁺ ion by the irradiation of DCM dye laser. The hole width and depth were ∼16 cm⁻¹ and ∼10% of the total intensity, respectively, at 20°C.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Europium‐exchanged Titanate Nanoporous Phosphors

Eu_x(NH₄)_2‐2xTi₃O₇ nanoporous phosphor was prepared by ion exchange method. (NH₄)₂Ti₃O₇ nanotubes were employed as the host structure by treating H₂Ti₃O₇ with NH₄OH solution and the activator, Eu²⁺, was introduced into the host via ion exchange. This is an easy and feasible way to prepare a phosphor. The synthesized samples were characterized using TEM, XRD, N₂ adsorption‐desorption isotherm, TPR, and fluorescence spectrophotometer. Experimental results showed that a portion of Eu²⁺ ions was oxidized into Eu³⁺ ions during ion exchange, resulting in the present phosphor with blue‐emitting and red‐emitting. Moreover, the tubular structure of Eu_x(NH₄)_2‐2xTi₃O₇ was distorted as Eu²⁺ was placed into the host structure. This distortion is attributed to the electrostatic interaction between Eu²⁺ and the electric field of the host structure.     

Structural, optical and thermal studies of Eu ions in lithium fluoroborate glasses

Borate glasses doped with trivalent europium were prepared by the conventional melt quenching technique, in the chemical composition of (49.99-x)B₂O₃ + 25Li₂O + 25LiF+xEu₂O₃ by varying the concentration of the rare earth ion in the order 0.01, 0.1, 1, 2 and 3 wt% and their structural, luminescence and thermal behavior have been reported. The XRD and FTIR spectra reveal the glass structure and the functional groups. The UV–VIS, luminescence spectra and lifetime of the Eu³⁺ ions were measured. The local site symmetry around the Eu³⁺ ions were evaluated through the luminescence intensity ratio (R) of the ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ to ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁ transitions. Optical measurements have been carried out to explore the optical properties such as bonding parameters, Judd–Ofelt parameters, stimulated emission cross-section, transition probability, branching ratio, radiative lifetime, etc. The lifetime measurements of the ⁵D₀ level as a function of the concentration of Eu³⁺ ion have been found and is comparable to other reported for Eu³⁺ doped borate, phosphate glasses and higher than that for the tellurite glasses. The thermal properties such as glass transition, crystallization and melting temperatures of the Eu³⁺ glasses were studied through the DSC traces in the temperature range of 30−1200 °C at a heating rate of 10 °C per minute. The change in optical properties with the variation of Eu³⁺ ion concentration have been discussed and compared with similar results.     

Reduction of Eu3 + to Eu2 + in Al-Codoped Silica Glasses Fabricated by the Sol-Gel Technique and CO2-Laser Processing

The spectroscopic properties of europium in aluminium codoped silica glasses produced by the sol-gel technique have been studied with respect to the dopant concentrations and the thermal processing applied to the samples. After thermal annealing at temperatures up to 950_°C the bright red fluorescence around 613 nm characteristic for the trivalent europium ions (Eu^{3 +}) has been observed. The lifetime was measured to be 0.1–2.4 ms depending on dopant concentrations and thermal treatment. Subsequent CO₂-laser processing in air (short time remelting) gave rise to a bright blue fluorescence consisting of two broad bands, lying around 450 and 490 nm, with their peak position depending on the ratio between the aluminium and europium concentrations. The fluorescence lifetimes were found to be shorter than 1 s. This blue fluorescence is attributed to the divalent europium ion (Eu^{2 +}), leading to the conclusion that the CO₂-laser processing of europium doped alumina-silica glasses resulted in the reduction of the trivalent to the divalent europium ion. Laser processing could therefore be a valid alternative to conventional thermal annealing for the generation of Eu^{2 +} in alumina-silica glasses.