Fluorophosphate glasses doped with Eu3+ and Dy3+ for X-ray radiography

Abstract In this work, fluorophosphate glass samples with the composition 35NaPO3-30Ba(PO3)2-25MgF2-(10- x)YF3–x[EuF3 or Dy2O3] with x = 0 - 4.0 mol% EuF3, or x = 0 - 1.0 mol% Dy2O3, were fabricated by the melt quenching technique. The glasses were characterized from the structural, thermal and optical-spectroscopic points of view. Emission spectra were measured in the visible range upon UV excitation. Luminescence decay curves were registered by monitoring the most intense emissions of Eu3+ (5D0→7F2) and of Dy3+ (4F9/2→6H13/2) in the red and green, respectively, and from them the average lifetime values of the excited states 5D0 of Eu3+ (2.5 ms) and 4F9/2 of Dy3+ (0.71 ms) were determined. Emission spectra measured under variable excitation power yielded calibration curves for Eu3+ and Dy3+-doped glasses. The response to X-ray excitation was evaluated through radioluminescence measurements. The results indicate the promising application of these glasses in scintillators and for X-ray sensing devices.