Intrinsic photoluminescence properties of amorphous Si3B3N7 ceramic

Amorphous Si3B3N7 ceramic shows intrinsic photoluminescence. Three distinctive emission regions have been observed. Excitation with wavelengths between 254 and 330 nm stimulates intense blue emissions with peak maxima ranging from 447 to 479 nm. Exciting between 315 and 420 nm results in two broad emission peaks; the first in the range between 400 and 440 nm, and the second between 560 and 690 nm. Of these two latter emissions, the one in the violet region dominates in intensity over the other one in the red region, thus a violet color is perceived with the eye via excitation with 330 nm or higher wavelengths. The three distinct intrinsic emissions in the photoluminescence spectrum of amorphous Si3B3N7 ceramic are related to defect centers in three topologically different regions in its structure. Dependence of emission on excitation wavelength is associated with the Red-Edge Effect and can be explained with a reabsorption mechanism at the red excitation edge.