Luminescence properties of Tb3+ ions in zinc fluorophosphate glasses for green laser applications

Tb3+-doped zinc fluorophosphate glasses of composition (in mol.%): 44 P2O5+ 17 K2O + 9 Al2O3 + (29-x) ZnF2+xTb(4)O(7), x= 0.1, 0.5,1.0 and 2.0, have been prepared by conventional melt quenching technique. The absorption, luminescence and decay curves of these glasses have been studied. The luminescence spectra of Tb3+ ions exhibit its characteristic D-5(4) -> F-7(J) (J=3, 4, 5 and 6) and D-5(3) -> F-7(J) (J=3, 4 and 5) transitions under 376 nm excitation. The integrated intensities of the D-5(4) -> F-7(5) (green at 546 nm) and D-5(3) -> F-7(4) (blue at 439 nm) transitions and their intensity ratios (I-G/I-B) have been evaluated as function of Tb3+ ion concentration. Decay curves have been measured for the D-5(3) and D-5(4) levels of Tb3+ ion in these glasses and lifetime has been determined and discussed with the other Tb3+-reported glasses. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.