This communication reports the intrinsic luminescence of tin chlorophosphate glasses. The glass maintains the low melting point characteristics of tin fluorophosphate glasses, and exhibits a red-shifted and broadened excitation wavelength peak. Tin chlorophosphate glasses can exhibit a broadband luminescence of 400–700 nm under an excitation of 380–430 nm. Furthermore, the introduction of ZnCl2 into tin chlorophosphate glasses can considerably enhance the luminescence without affecting their low-melting characteristics. The luminescence intensity can be increased fourfold, with the enhancement attributed to the reduced visible absorption, improved dispersion of Sn2+ ions, and the energy exchange between Sn2+ and Zn2+ in the glasses owing to the addition of ZnCl2.
