Tunable color, optical properties, and energy transfer of Tb³⁺-Sm³⁺-Yb³⁺ tri-doped lithium-niobium-tellurite glass for applications in color display devices and WLEDs

Ho Kim Dan ^1,2, Nguyen Dinh Trung ³, Nguyen Minh Tam ⁴

¹Optical Materials Research Group, Science and Technology Advanced Institute, Van Lang University Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam hokimdan@vlu.edu.vn.
²Faculty of Applied Technology, School of Technology, Van Lang University Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam.
³Faculty of Chemistry and Environment, Dalat University Lam Dong Vietnam.
⁴Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Phan Thiet 225 Nguyen Thong Phan Thiet City Binh Thuan Vietnam.
⁵Institute of Science and Technology, TNU-University of Sciences Thai Nguyen 250000 Vietnam.
⁶Institute of Theoretical and Applied Research, Duy Tan University Hanoi 100000 Vietnam vutkimlien@duytan.edu.vn.
⁷Faculty of Natural Sciences, Duy Tan University Da Nang 550000 Vietnam.
⁸The University of Danang, University of Science and Education Da Nang 550000 Vietnam.
⁹Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam.
¹⁰Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of Yunnan Province, Kunming University of Science and Technology Kunming 650093 China.

⁰Optical Materials Research Group, Science and Technology Advanced Institute, Van Lang University Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam hokimdan@vlu.edu.vn.

Rsc Advances +

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June 10, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Researchers developed tunable white light-emitting tellurite glasses doped with terbium (Tb<sup>3+</sup>) and samarium (Sm<sup>3+</sup>) ions. Adjusting the ion ratio optimized white light emission and color temperature for display and LED applications.

Area Of Science

Materials Science
Solid State Chemistry
Luminescence

Background

Development of novel phosphors for efficient white light generation is crucial for advanced display and lighting technologies.
Tellurite-based glasses offer unique optical properties, making them suitable hosts for rare-earth ion doping.
Controlling energy transfer mechanisms between co-doped rare-earth ions is key to tuning luminescence characteristics.

Purpose Of The Study

To synthesize and characterize lithium-niobium-tellurite glasses doped with terbium (Tb<sup>3+</sup>), samarium (Sm<sup>3+</sup>), and ytterbium (Yb<sup>3+</sup>) ions.
To investigate the potential of Tb<sup>3+</sup>-Sm<sup>3+</sup> co-doped glasses for tunable white light emission.
To explore the energy transfer dynamics between Tb<sup>3+</sup> and Sm<sup>3+</sup> ions in the tellurite glass matrix.

Main Methods

Synthesis of TeO<sub>2</sub>-Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>-LiO<sub>2</sub>-CaO (TNLC) glasses using the conventional melt-quenching method.
Single and co-doping of the TNLC glass with Tb<sup>3+</sup>, Sm<sup>3+</sup>, and Yb<sup>3+</sup> ions.
Characterization of luminescence properties, including fluorescence lifetime and color coordinates, as a function of ion doping ratios.

Main Results

Tunable white light emission was achieved in Tb<sup>3+</sup>-Sm<sup>3+</sup> co-doped TNLC glasses by adjusting the Tb<sup>3+</sup>/Sm<sup>3+</sup> ratio.
Evidence of multiple energy transfer channels, including Tb<sup>3+</sup> → Sm<sup>3+</sup> and Sm<sup>3+</sup> → Tb<sup>3+</sup>, was observed.
Optimal white light emission was obtained for the TNLC-0.5Tb0.6Sm sample with a Tb<sup>3+</sup>/Sm<sup>3+</sup> molar ratio of 0.83.
Color temperature was tunable from 5616 K to 7699 K by varying the rare-earth ion concentrations.

Conclusions

Tb<sup>3+</sup>-Sm<sup>3+</sup> co-doped and Tb<sup>3+</sup>-Sm<sup>3+</sup>-Yb<sup>3+</sup> tri-doped TNLC glasses exhibit promising potential for color display applications.
These glasses are suitable candidates for developing efficient white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) due to their tunable emission properties.
The controlled energy transfer mechanisms enable precise tuning of the optical output for specific lighting and display requirements.

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