White light emitting Ho3+-doped CdS nanocrystal ingrained glass nanocomposites

We report the generation of white light from Ho3+ ion doped CdS nanocrystal ingrained borosilicate glass nanocomposites prepared by the conventional melt-quench method. Near visible 405 nm diode laser excited white light emission is produced by tuning the blue emission from the Ho3+ ions, green band edge, and orange-red surface-state emissions of the nanocrystalline CdS, which are further controlled by the size of the nanocrystals. The absorption and emission spectra evidenced the excitation of Ho3+ ions by absorption of photons emitted by the CdS nanocrystals. The high color rendering index (CRI = 84-89) and befitting chromaticity coordinates (x = 0.308-0.309, y = 0.326-0.338) of white light emission, near visible harmless excitation wavelength (405 nm), and high absorbance values at excitation wavelength point out that these glass nanocomposites may serve as a prominent candidate for resin free high power white light emitting diodes. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.