High energy-transfer rate from Sn 2+ to Mn 2+ in phosphate glasses

High energy-transfer rates from Sn2+ to Mn2+ centers are demonstrated in ZnO–P2O5 glass. Emission decay curves of Sn2+ suggest an energy exchange interaction between Sn2+ and Mn2+. It is notable that the high energy-transfer rates are attained for random phosphate glass and that the transfer rate becomes slower with increasing amounts of Mn2+. Because these glasses possess high internal quantum efficiencies independent of the Sn2+ or Mn2+ concentration, we emphasize that effective energy-transfer paths are generated in the transparent glass phosphor, which leads to the development of a transparent inorganic light-emitting material different from conventional rare-earth-containing powdered phosphors.