Fabrication and Luminescence Properties of Transparent Glass-Ceramics Containing Eu3+-Doped TbPO4 Nanocrystals

Eu3+‐doped transparent phosphate precursor glasses and glass‐ceramics containing TbPO4 nanocrystals were successfully fabricated by a conventional high‐temperature melt‐quenching technique for the first time. The formation of TbPO4 nanocrystals was identified through X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected‐area electron diffraction, and photoluminescence emission spectra. The obvious Stark splitting of 5D0‐7FJ (J = 1, 2, 4) transitions of Eu3+and the increase of internal quantum efficiency indicate the incorporation of Eu3+ into TbPO4 nanocrystals. Energy transfer from Tb3+ ions to Eu3+ ions was investigated using excitation and emission spectra at room temperature. The glass‐ceramics obtained have more efficient Tb3+ to Eu3+ energy transfer than the glass, and so serve as good hosts for luminescent materials.