Triadic photonic orchestration in self-reducing aluminoborate glass phosphors for synergistic primary presentation and configurable spectral encoding

Driven by the escalating demand for next-generation materials in high-security encryption, glass-based luminescent systems featuring primary-color emissions and programmable energy transfer (ET) channels are expected to serve as fascinating solutions to these challenges. Herein, a rational compositional design endows the aluminoborate glass host with self-reducing properties, attributed to the abundant low-polymerization [BO₃] groups with numerous negative charges. In addition, EPR measurements confirm that the [V_Ζn]′′ vacancy defects facilitate the reduction of Eu³⁺, leading to a stable Eu²⁺/Eu³⁺ system with differentiated Eu²⁺ active centers, exhibiting a tunable blue/red primary-color emission. Incorporating Tb³⁺ generates bright green luminescence and induces triadic photonic orchestration (TPO) through interlaced ET channels among Eu²⁺, Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺, enabling the synergistic presentation of three-primary colors. Furthermore, the exposures of quantum yield and J-O parameters further demonstrate high luminescence efficiency and color purity, validating its remarkable potential for practical applications. In addition, concentration/excitation-triggered selective ET channels are achieved through TPO, innovatively demonstrating the feasibility of configurable spectral encoding, thereby establishing a multilevel encryption magic cube with high robustness and security. Such TPO-modulated synergistic primary presentation based on self-reducing aluminoborate glass phosphors pioneers a prospective material design framework for economical and eco-friendly multifunctional materials, with promising applications not only in advanced optical encryption but also in white lighting and spatial dynamic imaging. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.