Intensification of rare earths luminescence in glasses

Steady state and dynamic luminescence of Eu3+ cryptates, sulfides and oxides and of Tb3+ oxide and sulfide incorporated in a variety of glass films prepared by the sol–gel method allows to interpret the increase of luminescence in the complex ions compared to the simple oxides. The lifetimes of the emitting 5D0 state of europium and 5D4 state of terbium increases in the complexes. We discuss the mechanism of the excitation and nonradiative relaxation of the ions.