Luminescence properties and energy transfer mechanism of Ce3+/Mn2+ co-doped transparent glass-ceramics containing β-Zn2SiO4 nano-crystals for white light emission

PL spectra and photo images of Ce3+/xMn2+ doped glass-ceramics (λex=345nm). Inset: dependence of the energy transfer efficiency ηT on Mn2+ concentration. [Display omitted] •Ce3+/Mn2+ doped glass-ceramics containing β-Zn2SiO4 nano-crystals were prepared.•The glass-ceramics showed a tunable-color emission.•The resonant energy transfer from Ce3+ to Mn2+ via a dipole–quadrupole mechanism. A series of Ce3+/Mn2+ doped transparent glass-ceramics containing β-Zn2SiO4 nano-crystals were prepared by heat-treatment on the as-made glasses and their photoluminescence (PL) properties were investigated. Emission spectra of the glass-ceramics show a blue broad band peaking at 430nm and a yellow band peaking at about 575nm, originate from the allowed 5d→4f transition of Ce3+ ion and the 4T1g(4G)→6A1g(6S) transition of Mn2+ ion, respectively. Energy transfer from Ce3+ to Mn2+ via a dipole–quadrupole mechanism was confirmed by the luminescence spectra, decay time data, and the calculation of energy transfer efficiency of the glass-ceramics. The critical distance (RC) of energy transfer was calculated to be 8.32Ǻ. The varied emission color of Ce3+/Mn2+ doped transparent glass-ceramics from blue to white and eventually to yellow can be achieved by tuning the relative ratio of the Ce3+ to Mn2+ ions based on the principle of energy transfer. Based on the results in this study, Ce3+/Mn2+ doped transparent glass-ceramics can be used as a potential matrix material for White LED under UV–LED excitation.