Energy transfer and control of color luminescence in Dy3+/Tb3+ co-doped transparent oxyfluorosilicate glass ceramics containing LiYF4 nanocrystals

Abstract Dy3+/Tb3+ co-doped oxyfluoride glass ceramics (GC) containing lithium tetrafluoroyttrium (LiYF4) and yttrium fluoride (YF3) nanograins were prepared by a traditional melt-quenching approach. The crystalline phases and morphologies of the GCs were investigated. The GCs showed enhanced green emission from Tb3+ ions and the quenching of Dy3+ emission because of the efficient energy transfer from Dy3+ to Tb3+ ions. The electric dipole-dipole interactions were responsible for the energy transfer mechanism between Dy3+ and Tb3+ ions. The energy transfer efficiencies of these glass ceramics were calculated from their decay curves. The Dy3+/Tb3+ co-doped oxyfluoride GCs with various visible emissions were found to be potential candidates for white-light emitting diode applications.