Color tunable emission and temperature sensing performance in oxyfluoride glass ceramics containing Ce3+/Dy3+: Na5Y9F32 nanocrystals

Oxyfluoride glass with Na5Y9F32:Ce3+/Dy3+ nanocrystals were fabricated via a conventional melt-quenching route. The characterization results showed that Na5Y9F32 nanocrystals with particle sizes (40–75 nm) were successfully formed, and homogeneously dispersed in the glass matrix. Color tunable emission can be realized via varying the Dy3+ concentration. Energy transfer from Ce3+ to Dy3+ ions was confirmed by the fluorescence spectra and the decay curve measurement. The dependence of fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) on temperature were evaluated from the emission spectra, demonstrating that glass ceramics (GCs) can achieve high sensitivity (1.025% K-1). All these properties indicate that the developed Na5Y9F32:Ce3+/Dy3+ GCs could be an ideal material in color tunable luminescence and temperature sensors. •Ce3+ and Dy3+ ions were co-doped in Na5Y9F32 glass ceramics for the first time.•Tunable emission can be achieved by varying the Dy3+ concentration.•The glass ceramics possess high relative sensitivity.•The glass ceramics is an ideal material in tunable emission and temperature sensors.