The influence of the composition on the luminescence of Ce(III)–Ln–Si–Al–O–N glasses (Ln=Sc, Y, La, Gd)

The luminescence characteristics of Ce3+-doped Ln–Si–Al–O–N (Ln=Sc, Y, Gd, La) glasses have been investigated. As a function of the chemical composition and in particular the cerium concentration, the emission shifts over a broad interval (380–500 nm). It has been shown that the emission shift is the result of a competition between Ce3+ and the other lanthanide ions for incorporation on different sites in the glass matrix, combined with energy transfer between Ce3+ ions on the different sites.