Ultraviolet-driven white light generation from oxyfluoride glass co-doped with Tm3+-Tb3+-Eu3+

Tm3+-Tb3+-Eu3+ co-doped oxyfluoride glasses, doped with about 3.0 mol. % TmF3, 0.25 mol. % TbF3, and 0.25 mol. % EuF3, have been prepared by melt quenching technique. Under excitation at commercial 365 nm, the rare-earth co-dopants are all directly excited and emit in the blue, green, and red, respectively, without appreciable energy transfer amongst the co-dopants. Tint of the white luminescence can be adjusted by changing the ratio of the co-dopants. Properties of the glass host promote excellent dissolution of the co-dopants and low non-radiative decay rate. The white emission at 365 nm excitation is suitable for light emitting diodes applications.