Ultraviolet light induced white light emission in Ag and Eu3+ co-doped oxyfluoride glasses.

Transparent Ag and Eu(3+) co-doped oxyfluoride glasses with composition 50SiO(2)-20Al(2)O(3)-30CaF(2) were prepared by melt-quenching technique. The structural and luminescent properties of glasses, energy transfer mechanism between luminescent centers were systematically investigated. The missing nanoparticles signals in absorption spectra, XRD patterns and TEM images, the additional broad excitation band at 325-375 nm indicate that the broad emission band at 400-700 nm is originated from very small molecule-like, non-plasmonic Ag particles (ML-Ag-particles). A perfect white light emission was realized by combining intense red emission of Eu(3+) with broad band emission of ML-Ag-particles. These results suggest that Ag and Eu(3+) co-doped oxyfluoride glasses could be potentially applied as white light-emitting phosphors for ultra-violet LED chips.