Sb3+/Mn2+ co-doped tunable white emitting borosilicate glasses for LEDs

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Solid-State Chemistry
• Luminescence

Background:

• Rare earth-free luminescent materials are sought after for cost-effectiveness and sustainability.
• Borosilicate glasses offer a versatile host matrix for incorporating various dopants.
• Antimony (Sb(3+)) and Manganese (Mn(2+)) ions are known activators for luminescence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the luminescent properties of antimony (Sb(3+)) and manganese (Mn(2+)) co-doped borosilicate glasses.
• To explore the energy transfer mechanisms between Sb(3+) and Mn(2+) ions.
• To evaluate the potential of these glasses as novel luminescent materials for UV LED applications.

Main Methods:

• Systematic synthesis of Sb(3+)/Mn(2+) co-doped borosilicate glasses.
• Characterization using absorption, excitation, and emission spectroscopy.
• Analysis of luminescence decay curves to understand energy transfer dynamics.

Main Results:

• Excitation in the 250-340 nm range resulted in blue emission (400 nm) from Sb(3+) and red emission (615 nm) from Mn(2+).
• Tunable emission colors, ranging from blue to white to red, were achieved by adjusting Mn(2+) concentration.
• Evidence of energy transfer from Sb(3+) to Mn(2+) was observed, influencing the overall emission characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Sb(3+)/Mn(2+) co-doped borosilicate glasses exhibit tunable luminescence without rare earth ions.
• Efficient energy transfer between Sb(3+) and Mn(2+) facilitates color control.
• These glasses represent a promising new platform for developing efficient luminescent materials for UV LED chip applications.