Influence of the Eu ²⁺ on the Silver Aggregates Formation in Ag ⁺ – Na ⁺ Ion‐Exchanged Eu ³⁺ ‐Doped Sodium–Aluminosilicate Glasses

Abstract

Europium‐doping sodium–aluminosilicate glasses are prepared by melt‐quenching method, in which europium ions were spontaneously reduced from their trivalent to divalent state. The silver was introduced into glasses by Ag + – Na + ion exchange and the interactions between europium ions and silver species were investigated. Owing to energy transfer ( ET ) from Ag + /silver aggregates to Eu 3+ , significant enhancements of Eu 3+ emission were observed for 285/350‐nm excitation, respectively. The divalent europium ions promote the formation of silver aggregates in the process of ion exchange.