Enhanced UV emission of Gd³⁺ in glass by Ag⁺ co-doping

The first investigation on the effect of silver co-doping on the photoluminescence (PL) properties of Gd³⁺ ions in glass is reported. A barium-phosphate matrix is chosen as host, with the glasses being prepared by the melt-quenching technique. The PL spectroscopy assessment performed shows that with the increase in Ag⁺ concentration, the ultraviolet emission from Gd³⁺ is progressively enhanced. The data suggests a Ag⁺→Gd³⁺ excitation energy transfer occurring under the excitation at 275 nm which is resonant with the 4d¹⁰→4d⁹5s¹ (¹S₀→¹D₂) and ⁸S_7/2→⁶I_J electronic transitions in the silver and gadolinium ions, respectively.