Emission Properties of Sn2+ and Sm3+ Co-doped Barium Phosphate Glass

Co-doping of a P2O5:BaO glass matrix with divalent tin and trivalent samarium ions has been realized by the melt-quenching technique with the purpose of investigating the material’s luminescent properties. Photoluminescence excitation spectra obtained by monitoring Sm3+ 4G5/2 emission showed a broad excitation band around 290 nm (absent in a Sm3+-doped reference), typical of donor/acceptor energy transfer. Under such excitation, the material exhibits a reddish-white emission. Time-resolved spectra recorded under the 290-nm excitation (non-resonant with Sm3+ excitation peaks) exposed a broad blue-white band characteristic of twofold-coordinated Sn centers and orange-red emission bands of Sm3+ ions, which appeared well separated in time in accord with their emission decay dynamics. Consequently, the data indicate that light absorption occurs at Sn centers (donors) followed by energy transfer to samarium ions (acceptors) which results in populating the 4G5/2 emitting state in Sm3+. Energy transfer pathways likely resulting in the sensitization of Sm3+ photoluminescence are discussed. Results are put into context in terms of the potential of SnO and rare-earth co-doped barium phosphate glasses for use in white light-emitting devices.