Glasses containing Ce were prepared by the sol-gel method at elevated
temperatures. Two parallel series one in air and another in nitrogen a
tmosphere, were obtained. The main constituent of the glasses was sili
ca SiO2 obtained by hydrolysis of ethoxysilane (TEOS). Parallel series
of glasses were prepared with addition of boron and aluminum. Spectro
scopic properties of the glasses were mainly studied by absorption spe
ctroscopy, luminescence spectroscopy and life-time measurements. The c
omparison of the spectral properties of the glasses was made with exis
ting information on spectroscopy of cerium in crystals and conventiona
l glass. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.