Broad excitation spectra and bright reddish-orange emission of transparent phosphate glass excited by sunshine for greenhouses

• Published in: Optical materials Vol. 37; pp. 756 - 759
• Main Authors: Han, Yingdong, Song, Feng, Li, Qiong, Wang, Fengxiao, Ming, Chengguo, Tian, Jianguo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 01-11-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Broad emission bands; Broad excitation bands; Exact sciences and technology; Excited by sunlight; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Glasses, quartz; Greenhouse; Optical materials; Optics; Physics; Excited by sunlight; Greenhouse; Broad emission bands; Broad excitation bands; Chlorophyll; Eyes; Greenhouses; Red light; Doped materials; Manganese additions; High temperature; Phosphate glass; Samarium additions; Visible radiation; Sunlight; Excitation spectrum; Optical materials; Codoping
• ISSN: 0925-3467; 1873-1252
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2014.09.003

•The Mn2+/Sm3+ co-doped phosphate glasses which we prepared can emit bright reddish orange light (597nm and 644nm) under the illumination of sunlight.•Both of the excitation spectra and emission spectra have been extended to a broader range.•Such glasses can be used to turn sunlight to reddish-orange light for plants in glass greenhouses.
A series of Mn2+/Sm3+ co-doped phosphate glasses have been synthesized by high temperature melting method to investigate reddish-orange emission materials for greenhouses. Experiments show that the Mn2+/Sm3+ co-doped glasses can be effectively excited by a wide spectrum (300–560nm) and emit bright reddish-orange light. The intense emission bands for the co-doped phosphate glasses are from 590nm to 660nm, which exactly locate in the absorption domain of chlorophylls. Bright red–orange light emission is straightly observed by naked eyes when the sample is illuminated by sunlight without focused-lens. These improved luminescent properties show potential application in glass greenhouses.