Temperature dependence of the fluorescence of Eu3+-ion doped in various silicate glasses

The temperature dependence of emission intensity of the Eu3+ ion in several silicate glasses was investigated between 77 and 670 K, under the excitation of a 488-nm laser. It was observed that in some glasses the total emission intensity of the Eu3+ ion had a maximum at a certain temperature below 670 K, while in the other glasses increased monotonically with the increasing temperature. A unified theoretical model was given considering thermal activation, phonon-assisted absorption and nonradiative energy transfer processes. Based on the model, all of the experimental data were well fitted. The temperature-quenching channels were discussed, and the temperature-quenching rates were determined.