Photoluminescence of Sm3+ and Eu3+ co-doped La2O3–Ga2O3 glasses fabricated by an aerodynamic levitation furnace

A series of transparent (1- y )La 2 O 3 –Ga 2 O 3 - y Sm 2 O 3 - x Eu 2 O 3 (where x  = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10, 0.12, 0.14, and y  = 0, 0.04) were successfully synthesized using a containerless solidification process. Co-doping with Sm 3+ and Eu 3+ enhanced the energy absorption of Eu 3+ , notably improving the characteristic emission peak 5 D 0 - 7 F 2 of Eu 3+ . The peak emission intensity for y  = 0.04 was observed at x  = 0.08, attributable to the concentration quenching of Eu 3+ ions. As the concentration of Eu 3+ increased, the energy transfer effect on emission intensity diminished. Attributed to the energy transfer between Sm 3+ and Eu 3+ , Sm 3+ may primarily serve as the sensitizer, and Eu 3+ as the activator. According to the Dexter theory, which suggests that the interaction between activator ions and their adjacent ions is the primary mechanism of energy transfer and quenching among Eu 3+ ions and adjacent ions, an increase in Eu 3+ concentration leads to a decrease in the distance between Eu 3+ and adjacent ions, strengthening their interaction, and potentially inducing concentration quenching. Furthermore, with an increase in Eu 3+ concentration, the CIE chromaticity coordinates for the samples co-doped with Sm 3+ and Eu 3+ shifted significantly, enhancing the color purity of the emitted light and bringing it closer to the NTSC color standard coordinates (0.67, 0.33).