Tunable broad photoluminescence in Cu+/Mn2+ co-doped oxyfluoride glasses sintered in air atmosphere

In order to explore luminescent materials for spectra modification, a series of Cu+ and Mn2+ doped oxyfluoride glasses were successfully prepared via melt-quenching method. A simple, efficient and universal method was used to gain monovalent copper ions in air atmosphere by adding aluminum powder as reducing agent. The luminescent properties of glasses were systematically investigated through optical absorption, photoluminescence and decay curves. Under ultraviolet excitation, Cu+ singly doped glass emits broad luminescence band, and its emission band shifts to red with increasing excitation wavelength. Through an efficient energy transfer process, Cu+-Mn2+ co-doped samples generate the varied hues from blue to white and eventually to red. Luminescent quantum yield and energy transfer efficiency were obtained. Our results demonstrate that Cu+Mn2+ co-doped glasses have potential application in white LEDs as well as photosynthesis of green plants.