Fabrication and Luminescence Properties of Transparent Glass‐Ceramics Containing Eu 3+ ‐Doped TbPO 4 Nanocrystals

Eu 3+ ‐doped transparent phosphate precursor glasses and glass‐ceramics containing TbPO 4 nanocrystals were successfully fabricated by a conventional high‐temperature melt‐quenching technique for the first time. The formation of TbPO 4 nanocrystals was identified through X ‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected‐area electron diffraction, and photoluminescence emission spectra. The obvious Stark splitting of 5 D 0 ‐ 7 F J ( J = 1, 2, 4) transitions of Eu 3+ and the increase of internal quantum efficiency indicate the incorporation of Eu 3+ into TbPO 4 nanocrystals. Energy transfer from Tb 3+ ions to Eu 3+ ions was investigated using excitation and emission spectra at room temperature. The glass‐ceramics obtained have more efficient Tb 3+ to Eu 3+ energy transfer than the glass, and so serve as good hosts for luminescent materials.