Effect of ZnO on Luminescence Performance of Terbium-Activated Zinc Borosilicate Glasses

In this study, terbium-doped ZnO-SiO₂-B₂O₃-Na₂O glasses were fabricated with the conventional melt-quenching method. The effect of altering the concentration of the host matrix on luminescence performance was investigated in terms of different ZnO/B₂O₃ and ZnO/SiO₂ ratios. FT-IR results indicate that bridging oxygens (Bos) were converted to non-bridging oxygens (NBOs) with increments of ZnO. Furthermore, the emission intensity and luminescence lifetime of samples were influenced by the amount of ZnO; this was proven with photoluminescence spectra results. The maximum emission intensity was observed at a 1.1 ZnO/B₂O₃ ratio and a 0.8 ZnO/SiO₂ ratio; however, the highest luminescence lifetime was observed at a 1.1 ZnO/SiO₂ ratio. The emission intensity and luminescence lifetime of glass samples were improved by heat treatment as a result of the formation of willemite and zinc oxide phases. An increase in the ZnO/SiO₂ ratio facilitated the formation of willemite and zinc oxide phases; therefore, crystallinity was directly related to the luminescence behavior of glass samples.