Optical property of Bi3+∶Eu3+-codoped borosilicate glass with Eu3+ ions as probe

A series of samples about Eu3+ doped, Bi3+∶Eu3+-codoped borosilicate glasses have been prepared by high-temperature sintering. The excitation spectra, emission spectra and the phonon sideband spectra of the samples were measured. The influence on the luminescence of Eu3+ ions was discussed with Eu3+ ions as probe when Bi3+ions were doped. The results show that the electron-phonon coupling coefficient calculated in this study is smaller than those of borate-lead glasses and others reported before, but the probability of non-radiative transition of Eu3+ ions is increased by the doping of Bi3+ ions. The Bi3+ ions can sensitize Eu3+ ions, and when Bi3+ ions are doped, the covalent property becomes bigger with the symmetry becoming smaller which enhances the luminescence intensity of Eu3+ ions on the whole. Therefore, in the borosilicate glasses, the increase of luminescence intensity about Eu3+ ions is the result of the combined action between the above factorsnot simply because of the energy transition from Bi3+ ions to Eu3+ ions.