Photoluminescence and photostimulated luminescence of Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ in zeolite-Y

Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ were codoped in zeolite-Y. Their photoluminescence and photostimulated luminescence were investigated. Due to the dissipation of excitation energy by OH vibrations, the luminescence from the hydrated zeolite containing Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ prepared at room temperature is very weak. However, the luminescence is enhanced greatly when the sample was treated at 800 °C. Strong photostimulated luminescence of both Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ was detected in the sample prepared at 800 °C. The photostimulated luminescence of Tb³⁺ is due to the recombination of electrons with Tb⁴⁺ ions, while the photostimulated luminescence of Eu³⁺ is caused by energy transfer from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺. The existence of Tb⁴⁺ and Eu²⁺ ions is due to charge transfer from Eu³⁺ to Tb³⁺. The occurrence of photostimulated luminescence and discrete emission lines in blue (434 nm), green (543 nm), and red (611 nm) colors indicate that this material has potential applications in white light-emitting devices and erasable optical storage.