Spectroscopic characterization and optical waveguide fabrication in Ce ³⁺, Tb³⁺ and Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺ doped zinc-sodium-aluminosilicate glasses

A spectroscopy investigation of Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions in sodium-zinc-aluminosilicate glasses is performed using the photoluminescence technique. Blue-white light, with x = 0.24 and y = 0.24 CIE chromaticity coordinates, is obtained for the Tb³⁺ singly-doped glass excited at 351 nm. When the sodium-zinc-aluminosilicate glass is co-doped with Ce ³⁺ and Tb³⁺ a non-radiative energy transfer from Ce ³⁺ to Tb³⁺ ions is observed upon 320 nm excitation. From an analysis of the cerium emission decay curve, the Ce³⁺ → Tb³⁺ energy transfer microscopic parameter and efficiency are obtained. Different concentrations of Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions in the glass host gives rise to blue and blue-green emissions, with different CIE coordinates. Optical waveguides were produced in the samples by Ag ⁺-Na⁺ ion-exchange, and their characterization is presented.