Photoluminescence Properties and Lasing Performance of Dy3+/Tb3+ Co-Doped Antimony Phosphate Glasses

Abstract

Dy3+/Tb3+ co-doped antimony phosphate glasses (PDTs) were prepared by a common melt-quenching method. The spectra properties of PDTs were analyzed in the range of 300 to 850 nm. The sensitization mechanism of Dy3+ in enhancing the visible fluorescence of Tb3+ ions was explored. Since the energy of Dy3+ ions are effectively transferred to Tb3+ ions, an enhancement of Tb3+ emission at 545 nm and a reduction of Dy3+ emission at 575 nm were observed. The energy transfer (ET) between Dy3+ and Tb3+ ions result from the electric dipole interaction. In the PD1T4 sample pumped at 450 nm, a maximum ET efficiency of 63.1% was obtained. The larger values of laser characteristic parameters of Tb3+: 5D4 → 7F5 transition indicate that these antimony phosphate glasses have great potential for green lasing operation.