Structure and Fluorescence Quenching of Li2O-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 Glasses Doped with Trivalent Cerium

20Li(2)O-5MgO-20Al(2)O(3)-55SiO(2) glass doped with different concentrations of Ce3+ ions was synthesized by using melt-quenching method. The glass density as a function of Ce3+ ions doping concentration was tested by Archimedes' method. The structural characteristics of Ce3+-doped 20Li(2)O-5MgO-20Al(2)O(3)-55SiO(2) were detected by using X-rays diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) techniques. The photoluminescence excitation (PLE) and emission (PL) spectra were recorded in a spectrofluorimeter by photon counting techniques. Results showed that 5d energy level of Ce3+ ion was splitted to five components under the strong crystal filed surrounding Ce3+ ions. The higher the doping concentration of Ce3+ ions, the higher the degree of non-crystalline configuration of lithium magnesium aluminosilicate glass was. With the increase of the degree of non-crystalline configuration, the splitting width of 5d energy level increased, resulting in the redshift of excitation and emission spectra apparently. The PL emission intensity first increased, and then decreased with the increase of Ce3+ ions doping concentration. The concentration quenching processes were found to be the key reason for the reduction of the PL emission efficiency.