Structural and optical properties of cerium and dysprosium coactivated borophosphate glasses for cool white light application

•Borophosphate glasses doped with Ce and Dy were prepared.•Ce3+ to Dy3+ energy transfer efficiency was found to be 69%.•CCT value of 5361 K was observed for SBP:Ce0.5Dy0.3 glass.•Color coordinates of SBP:Ce0.5Dy0.3 was 0.335, 0.334.•SBP:Ce0.5Dy0.3 can be used as potential cool white light-emitting glass. Borophosphate (SrO-Li2O-ZnO-B2O3-P2O5; SBP) glasses doped with Ce and Dy were prepared by the conventional melt quenching technique. The structural properties were investigated through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy techniques. Glasses with Dy3+ showed the characteristic Photoluminescence emissions in the blue, yellow and red regions. Sensitization of Dy3+luminescence was studied in the glasses doped with Dy3+ and Ce3+. The concentrations of cerium and dysprosium were optimized to maximize the white light emission. The asymmetry ratio of Dy3+ was determined to learn about symmetry aspects in the prepared glasses. Lifetime decay measurements were carried out to get information about the observed energy transfer. The obtained chromaticity color coordinates and color correlated temperature indicated SBP:Ce0.5Dy0.3 as an efficient cool white light-emitting glass. [Display omitted]