In silicate sol-gel glass doped with trivalent terbium, the intensity of violet and blue fluorescence from the D-5(3) level is highly dependent on terbium concentration, on the presence of Al3+ co-dopant, and on annealing conditions. Evidence is presented that aluminum co-doping prevents rare earth clusters from forming, and also modifies the coupling of rare earth ions to the local environment. D-5(3) emission is observed in glasses annealed at 750 degrees C, and increases in intensity with increasing annealing time and with higher temperature. This behavior is shown to be due to the removal of residual hydroxyl ions. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.