Tb3+ and Ce3+ Intercalated Laponite Powder: The Influence of Ce3+ Ions on Thermal Stability and Optical Properties of Tb3+ Intercalated Laponite

Laponite samples intercalated with $Tb^{3+}$ or $Tb^{3+},Ce^{3+}$ ions were prepared by exchange of Na+ ions in interlayers with $Tb^{3+}$ or $Ce^{3+}$ ions. Strong green and weak blue emissions under vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation (${\lambda}$ = 158 nm) were observed due to the $^5D_4{\rightarrow}^7F_J$ and $^5D_3{\rightarrow}^7F_J$ emission lines, respectively. $Tb^{3+}$ ions in an interlayer of laponite mainly existed in ion pairs or clusters, as evidenced by the concentration-dependent luminescence of the $Tb^{3+}$ ions on the relative intensities of the $^5D_3{\rightarrow}^7F_J$ and the $^5D_4{\rightarrow}^7F_J$ emission lines, due to the action of a cross-relaxation process. The addition of $Ce^{3+}$ ions increased the thermal stability of $Tb^{3+}$ intercalated laponite up to $650^{\circ}C$ and quenched the $^5D_3{\rightarrow}^7F_J$ emission lines, probably by promoting the formation of $Tb^{3+}$ ion pairs at relatively low $Tb^{3+}$ concentrations.