In situ generation of Eu2+ in glass-forming melts

We report on the efficacy of in situ reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ in a fluoride melt by a variety of chemical reductants and by bulk electrochemical reduction. The Eu2+ content of the resultant glasses was determined by a combination of electron paramagnetic resonance and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Addition of LM, or use of a hydrogen atmosphere, produced near-complete reduction, whilst the electrochemical technique produced approximately 30% conversion. None of the fluorozirconate glasses luminesced from Eu2+ ions, although a fluoroaluminate glass made using the LiH reduction technique did luminesce. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.