White light generation through the zinc metaphosphate glass activated by Ce3+, Tb3+ and Mn2+ ions

The photoluminescence of Ce3+, Tb3+ and Mn2+ ions was investigated in the Zn(PO3)2 glass. The blue and green emissions of Tb3+ ions and the red emission of Mn2+ ions are enhanced upon UV excitation through a non-radiative energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ and Mn2+ ions. The efficiency of this transfer was estimated in at least 62%. It is demonstrated that this glass activated with three ions (Ce3+, Tb3+ and Mn2+) can generate white light emission (x=0.420 and y=0.423 chromaticity coordinates and 3440 K colour temperature) under excitation at 254 nm, i.e., using an AlGaN-based LED as excitation source.