Luminescence from lanthanides-doped glasses and applications: A review

In this work, the luminescence behaviors and applications from trivalent lanthanide ions doped glasses have been reviewed. Glasses have advantage is recyclable, good energy storage, high soluble rare earth and can be shaped into any size of interest, including fiber. Glasses are also essential materials and can be utilized in many forms. The trivalent lanthanide ions are also a substance of interest with their optical properties, which allow a variety of technological applications. For examples, the rare earth doped materials have already been developed as sensor devices, energy saving lighting devices, optical displays, optical fibers, amplifiers, and lasers. Visible and Near-infrared luminescence for high power lasers is a current requirement in photonics and modern fiber optic telecommunication network. An emphasis has to be put in recent advances of the emitting materials for amplifiers, fiber lasers, and waveguides. In this review, up and down conversion luminescence properties of the glasses doped with several lanthanide ions, i.e., Ce³⁺, Pr³⁺, Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺, Dy³⁺, Er³⁺, Yb³⁺, Ho³⁺, Tm³⁺, and Tb³⁺. Moreover, the current status of their potential applications are also given.