Fast and intense green emission of Tb(3+) in borosilicate glass modified by Cu(+)

We present photoluminescence properties of Tb(3+) doped borosilicate glasses modified by Cu(+). Around 5-time enhanced emission at 541 nm due to the superposed emission of Tb(3+) and Cu(+) is observed under the deep UV excitation. Excitation spectra demonstrate a greatly increased absorption of Tb(3+) ions in the deep UV region towards the Cu(+) excitation band, while the shortened Cu(+) emission lifetime of glasses in association with presence of Tb(3+) ions implies an energy transfer process from Cu(+) to Tb(3+) ions. Meanwhile, the Tb(3+) emission lifetime is significantly shortened from the conventional millisecond level (~4 ms) to the microsecond regime up to around 90 μs. This most likely starts with the role of Cu(+) as a co-activator by initiating the d-f orbital hybridization process via an interaction with Tb(3+), thus relaxing the spin forbidden transition of Tb(3+) ions to the partially allowed one. Moreover, combination of emissions from Cu(+) and Tb(3+) ions generates a composite green emission with adjustable CIE (Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage) chromaticity coordinates achievable by co-doping Cu(+)/Tb(3+) in the different ratio and/or altering the excitation wavelength from deep UV to near UV region.