Luminescence properties of glasses and glass-ceramics | Gdańsk University of Technology

Karolina Milewska wrote her doctoral dissertation, entitled “Synthesis, structure and luminescence properties of borate-bismuth glasses and glass-ceramics doped with rare earth ions,” in the field of materials engineering. The doctoral dissertation supervisor is Prof. Barbara Kościelska and the reviewers are Prof. Manuela Reben (AGH University in Cracow), Prof. Wojciech Pisarski (University of Silesia in Katowice) and Prof. Tomasz Pietrzak (Warsaw University of Technology).

The scientist examined new borate-bismuth glasses and glass-ceramics containing AlF3 and SrF2 as potential hosts for RE3+ ions. She conducted experimental studies to determine optimal conditions for synthesizing transparent borate-bismuth glasses and glass-ceramics, in particular focusing on analyzing their structure and luminescence properties.

‘When AlF3 was added to the glass matrix, it resulted in an increase in luminescence intensity of the RE3+ ions in glasses with 10 mol% AlF3,’ explains the scientist. ‘I noticed that the color that was emitted could be adjusted by varying the ratios of RE3+ ions. Meanwhile, in the study of glass-ceramic systems doped with SrF2, successful crystallization of SrF2 nanocrystals was achieved. The findings of my research presented here suggest that the proposed glasses and glass-ceramics could serve as suitable matrices for optically active RE3+ ions.’

Karolina Milewska finds the four years at the Doctoral School to be a very fulfilling time, but also one packed with intensive work, as the research she has conducted requires a lot of trial, repetition and extraordinary patience.

After the doctoral dissertation defense (25th October), laboratories at the Faculty of Technology of Linnaeus University in Sweden are already waiting for her. There, she will do her post-doctoral internship.