Structural and Luminescence Properties of Glass

Dear Colleagues,

Comparatively to silicate glasses, the phosphate glasses network can include luminescent (rare-earth, transition) ions in higher concentrations, with increased energy of emitted radiation. Boron oxide-based glasses exhibit a large glass formation range and high properties like enhanced transparency, together with thermal, chemical, and radiation stability. Zinc-tellurite glass has received widespread attention lately due to its promising potential as a rare-earth elements host for lasers or optical fibers. New interesting vitreous systems for luminescence purposes such as bismuthate and germanate systems are being studied nowadays. The structural characterization of such glasses includes short-range investigations, using Magic-Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (MAS-NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy and Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS), and X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES). Between the recent glass structure models, the molecular dynamic simulation seems the most appropriate. Luminescence studies include absorption and emission spectra; photoluminescence excitation; temperature-dependent and time-dependent photoluminescence; luminescence decay spectra; and, if more than one luminescent ion is involved, the energy transfer process. These processes can be modelled, for example, by stretched exponential Kohlraush/Williams/Watts (KWW) functions or by multiple exponential models implying several discrete lifetimes for different depopulation routes. The main applications of luminescent glasses are energy harvesting, lasers, and optoelectronics.

Dr. Bogdan A. Sava
Guest Editor

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