Dynamic colour and utilizable white fluorescence from Eu/Tb ions codoped lithium-yttrium-aluminium-silicate glasses

A group of dynamic-colour white fluorescences with various colour temperatures that can be applied to circadian lighting are achieved in Eu/Tb-codoped lithium-yttrium-aluminium-silicate (LYAS) glasses, which can be attributed to the simultaneous generation of three primary colours emitting from Eu ³⁺ (red), Eu ²⁺ (blue) and Tb ³⁺ (green) by varying the ultraviolet (UV) radiation wavelength. Fluorescence colour coordinates pass through the whole white region of the CIE x, y chromaticity diagram when the UV excitation wavelength is increased from 300 to 370nm. A favourable white light with colour coordinates (0.338, 0.298) close to the equal energy white is obtained under 360nm excitation. These results indicate that the Eu/Tb-codoped LYAS glasses are a promising candidate to develop white lighting devices under the excitation of commercial UV light-emitting diodes, and a smart lighting system based on rare-earth doped glasses will be a potential illumination source offering controllability of the colour temperature that can adjust to specific environments and requirements, and benefit human health, well-being and productivity.