Investigation of luminescence properties of Eu-doped Si-Al-O-N glasses synthesized via sol-gel process

Luminescent properties of Eu ions doped in Si-Al oxynitride glasses were investigated. The Si-Al oxynitride glasses contained with Eu ions were prepared via sol-gel processes and nitridation. The nitrogen in the glasses prepared from xerogels was less than 3 at%, but that in the glasses prepared from aerogels increased up to approximately 20 at% with an increase in the nitridation temperature. The glass structures were characterized using FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. The valence states of Eu ions were estimated by XANES spectroscopy. All samples showed a broad emission peak originating from 4f→5d transition of Eu2+ ions. The luminescent properties such as photoluminescence intensity and the peak position depended on the glass compositions. The effects of the glass compositions on the luminescent properties were investigated based on the glass structures.