Intensification of rare earths luminescence in glasses

Steady state and dynamic luminescence of Eu3+ cryptates, sulfides and oxides and of Tb3+ oxide and sulfide incorporated in a variety of glass films prepared by the sol-gel method allows to interpret the increase of luminescence in the complex ions compared to the simple oxides. The lifetimes of the emitting D-5(0) state of europium and D-5(4) state of terbium increases in the complexes. We discuss the mechanism of the excitation and nonradiative relaxation of the ions. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.