Enhanced blue afterglow in Ce-doped boroaluminate glass modified by Na

The alkali metal Na⁺ is commonly applied as a charge compensator to optimize afterglow performance but rarely reported as a structural regulator to modify afterglow behavior in long afterglow glass materials. In this paper, by preparing the Na ⁺-modified Ce-doped boroaluminate glasses under a high-temperature reducing atmosphere, super-five times brighter blue-violet afterglow lasting up to 30 min was obtained. Results show that appropriate Na⁺ doping loosens the glass structure and widens the bandgap, thereby regulating most of the electron capture-release modes. This work provides new insights into the behavior of afterglow enhancement in alkali metal-doped glasses.