Influence of CeF3 on Ga2O3-Lu2O3-Al2O3-Y2O3-B2O3 glass for photonics material

CeF3 doped gallium lutetium aluminium yttrium borate glasses were investigated for photonics applications in this work. Their physical, structural, optical and luminescence properties were studied by the effect of CeF3 concentration. Glass density and refractive index raised with increasing CeF3 amount. The FTIR spectra and XRD pattern demonstrated that the glass network consisted of trigonal BO3 and tetragonal BO4 borate groups cooperating with metal oxides in amorphous nature, while CeF3 dopant acted as a glass modifier. Glass strongly absorbed the photons in ultraviolet region by transition of host component, superposed with the 4 f→5d transition of Ce3+ dopant. Under UV excitation, glass doped with 0.05 mol%-CeF3 performed the highest emission intensity at 391 nm by 5d→4 f transition. Due to the strong blue emission, half photons conversion ability and short decay time around 21 ns, this developed glass owns a potential for the blue light sources / medium and the ultraviolet to visible light converter.