The luminescence performance of Tb³⁺ doped ABS-BGP glasses excited by different type of energy sources

Transparent ABS-BGP (Al₂O₃–B₂O₃–SiO₂–BaCO₃-Gd₂O₃–P₂O₅) glasses doped with different level of Tb³⁺ concentrations (from 0 to 12 mol.%) were synthesized by the high-temperature melting method. The luminescent and energy transfer properties were investigated by transmittance, photoluminescence, cathodoluminescence (CL) and X-ray excited luminescence spectra. The optimal concentration of Tb³⁺ ions in ABS-BGP glasses excited by both ultraviolet light, electron beam, and X-ray excitation was also determined. The decay time of 543 nm main emission band of Tb³⁺ doped glasses decrease in the range from 1.66 ± 0.005 to 1.18 ± 0.005 ms with increasing of Tb³⁺ions. The energy transfer mechanism was discussed, and the corresponding critical distances for Tb³⁺–Tb³⁺ ion pairs were calculated. The integral scintillation efficiency of the 10 mol% Tb³⁺-doped ABS-BGP glass sample reach 63.9% of the Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ (BGO) standard crystal.