Dysprosium doped alkali fluoroborate glasses—Thermal, structural and optical investigations

Thermal, structural and optical properties of Dy³⁺-doped alkali fluoroborate glasses with composition (in mol%), 49B₂O₃+25XO+25NaF+1Dy₂O₃ (where X=Li₂, Na₂, K₂, Mg and Ca), have been investigated. Thermal analysis revealed the homogeneous formation of the glasses. The FTIR spectra reveal that the glasses contain BO₃, BO₄ non-bridging oxygen atoms and strong OH⁻ bonds. From the optical absorption spectra, Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (Ω_λ, λ=2, 4 and 6) have been evaluated and are in turn used to predict radiative properties such as radiative transition probability (A), stimulated emission cross-section () and branching ratios (β_R) for the excited levels of Dy³⁺ ions in alkali fluoroborate glasses. The dependence of the spectral characteristics of Dy³⁺ ions due to compositional changes has been examined and reported.     

Composition dependent structural and optical properties of Sm doped boro-tellurite glasses

Boro-tellurite glasses with the composition (69-x)H₃BO₃+xTeO₂+15MgCO₃+15K₂CO₃+1Sm₂O₃ (where x=0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 wt%) doped with trivalent samarium have been prepared and their structural and spectroscopic behavior were studied and reported. The FTIR spectra reveal the presence of BO₃ and BO₄ non-bridging oxygen as well as strong OH⁻ bonds in the prepared glasses. Through the optical absorption spectra, Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (Ω_λ, λ=2, 4 and 6) have been evaluated and the same is in turn used to predict radiative properties such as radiative transition probability (A), stimulated emission cross-section () and branching ratios (β_R) for the excited levels of Sm³⁺ ions corresponding to ⁴G_5/2→⁶H_5/2, ⁴G_5/2→⁶H_7/2, ⁴G_5/2→⁶H_9/2 and ⁴G_5/2→⁶H_11/2 transitions. Structural and spectral dependence of the Sm³⁺ ions due to the compositional changes have been examined and reported. The lifetime of the ⁴G_5/2 level is found to be non-exponential for all the prepared glasses indicating a cross-relaxation among the Sm³⁺ ions. The structural and spectroscopic results corresponding to compositional changes have been compared with the similar studies and reported.     

Absorption and fluorescence studies of Sm ions in lead containing sodium fluoroborate glasses

Lead containing calcium zinc sodium fluoroborate glasses (LCZSFB) with molar composition of 20PbO+5CaO+5ZnO+10NaF+(60−x) B₂O₃+x Sm₂O₃, (x=0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mol%) were prepared and investigated by the XRD, FTIR, optical absorption, photoluminescence and decay curve analysis. Judd-Ofelt theory was applied to the experimental oscillator strengths to evaluate the phenomenological J-O intensity parameters Ω_λ (λ=2, 4 and 6). Using the J-O intensity parameters as well as from the emission and decay measurements, various radiative parameters such as transition probabilities (A_R), radiative lifetimes (τ_R), measured lifetimes (τ_m), calculated branching ratios (β_R), measured branching ratios (β_m), effective bandwidth (Δλ_eff) and stimulated emission cross sections σ(λ_p) have been calculated for the excited ⁴G_5/2 luminescent level. The nature of decay curves of ⁴G_5/2 level for different Sm³⁺ ion concentrations in all LCZSFB glasses has been analyzed and the lifetimes are noticed to decrease with increase of concentration. The concentration quenching has been attributed to the energy transfer through the cross-relaxation between Sm³⁺ ions. Based on these results, the utility of Sm³⁺ ions doped lead containing fluoroborate glasses as laser active materials in the visible region is discussed.     

Absorption and emission spectral studies of Sm and Dy doped alkali fluoroborate glasses

Absorption and photoluminescence spectra of Sm³⁺ and Dy³⁺ doped alkali fluoroborate glasses of the composition 90.5% B₂O₃+4% AlF₃+5% MF+0.5% LnF₃ (M=Li, Na, K and Ln=Sm, Dy) have been reported. On excitation, with , the Sm³⁺ glasses are found to be orange fluorescent in color and richness of that color is high in the Na+ glass, compared to Li⁺ and K⁺ glasses. Similarly, on excitation with , the Dy³⁺ glasses are fluorescent yellow in color and that color is richer in the K⁺ glass.     

Structural, optical and thermal investigations on Dy doped NaF–Li2O–B2O3 glasses

Structural, optical and thermal properties of Dy³⁺ doped lithium fluoroborate glasses have been studied for various concentrations of Dy³⁺ from 0.5 to 5 wt%. The XRD studies confirm the amorphous nature of the glasses while the FTIR spectra reveal the presence of BO₃ and BO₄ local structural units. The UV–VIS–NIR absorption studies were carried out to calculate the bonding parameters ( and δ), to identify the ionic/covalent nature of the glasses. The JO parameters, experimental and theoretical oscillator strengths were also determined and reported. The luminescence spectra have been studied to determine the radiative transition probability (A), stimulated emission cross section () and the experimental and calculated branching ratios (β_R) for the excited levels that include ⁴F_9/2→⁶H_11/2, ⁶H_13/2, and ⁶H_15/2 transitions. The variation of optical properties with varying concentrations of dysprosium oxide content in the glasses are reported and discussed. The thermal behavior of Dy³⁺ doped lithium fluoroborate glasses have been reported by recording DSC thermograms.     

Characterization of Tm doped mixed alkali borate glasses—spectroscopic investigations

The effect of mixed alkalis on the optical absorption spectra of Tm³⁺ in xNa₂O·(30−x)K₂O·70B₂O₃ glasses has been studied. The optical band gap values (E_opt) for both direct and indirect transitions have been obtained using Davis and Mott theory. Spectroscopic parameters like Racah (E¹, E² and E³), spin-orbit (ξ_4f) and Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (, and ) have been calculated for different x values. Radiative transition probabilities (A_rad), radiative lifetimes (τ_R), branching ratios (β), integrated absorption cross sections (Σ) and multiphonon relaxation rates (W_MPR) are calculated for certain excited states of Tm³⁺ ion. The observed trends in the above parameters as a function of x in these borate glasses have been discussed keeping in view the effect of mixed alkalies in borate glasses. Certain potential lasing transitions have been identified for laser action among the various transitions of Tm³⁺ in these mixed alkali borate glasses.     

Judd-Ofelt parameters of Er in transparent TeO2-based nanocrystallized glasses

Transparent Er³⁺-doped bulk nanocrystallized (size of nanocrystals: ∼40 nm) glasses of 15K₂O·15Nb₂O₅·70TeO₂·0.5Er₂O₃ and 10BaO·10Gd₂O₃·80TeO₂·0.5Er₂O₃ are prepared, and the Judd-Ofelt parameters, (t=2, 4, 6), of Er³⁺ are evaluated from optical absorption spectra. The change in the molar polarizability due to the nanocrystallization is small in both samples, but a clear decrease in the mean atomic volume due to the nanocrystallization, i.e. more close atom packing, is observed. In both systems, a large decrease is observed in the parameter due to the nanocrystallization, indicating that the degree of the site symmetry of Er³⁺ ions in nanocrystallized glasses is much higher than that in the precursor glasses. The decrease in the and parameters due to the crystallization is small, suggesting that the covalency of Er³⁺-O bonds in nanocrystals is not so different from that in the precursor glasses.     

The luminescence of Sm in alkaline earth borophosphates

The temperature-dependent luminescence of Sm²⁺ ions in MBPO₅ was studied. At low temperature, Sm²⁺ in this series shows 4f⁶→4f⁶ luminescence with only a single emission line observed for the transition, revealing that only one crystallographic cationic site is available for Sm²⁺ in all the hosts. With increasing temperature, the emission intensity of the transition increases whereas that of the transitions decreases. The transitions of Sm²⁺ were observed in BaBPO₅ and its intensity increases with increasing temperature. At , a broad band of the 4f⁵5d→4f⁶ luminescent transition of Sm²⁺ in SrBPO₅ and BaBPO₅ with maximum at appears due to the thermal population. The lifetime of the transition was recorded at different temperatures, showing a single exponential decay for Sm²⁺ in SrBPO₅ and BaBPO₅ but a non-single-exponential decay in CaBPO₅.     

Photoluminescence properties of Sm in LBTAF glasses

Room temperature visible and near infrared optical absorption and emission spectra of Sm³⁺-doped lead borate titanate aluminum fluoride (LBTAF) glasses with molar composition (50−x) PbO−30H₃BO₃−10TiO₂−10AlF₃−xSm₂O₃ (x=0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0) have been analyzed. Energy parameters for the 4f⁵ electronic configuration of Sm³⁺: LBTAF glasses have been evaluated using free-ion Hamiltonian model. The experimental oscillator strengths of absorption bands have been used to determine the J-O parameters. Fluorescence spectra were recorded by exciting the samples with 402 nm. Using the J-O parameters and luminescence data, the radiative transition probabilities (A_R), branching ratios (β_R) and stimulated emission cross-sections (σ_e) were obtained. The decay curves of ⁴G_5/2→⁶H_7/2 transition exhibit single exponential for lower concentration (0.1 mol%) and non-exponential for higher concentrations. This concentration quenching has been attributed to the energy transfer through cross-relaxation between Sm³⁺ ions. From the values of the radiative parameters, it is concluded that 1.0 mol% Sm³⁺-doped LBTAF glass may be used for laser active medium with emission wavelength at 600 nm.     

Unique optical traits of Sm3+ -doped magnesium borate glass

A series of Sm³⁺-doped magnesium borate glasses were prepared using the melt quenching and characterized to determine the effects of various Sm³⁺ contents on their optical traits. The absorption and luminescence spectra of the glasses revealed ten and four significant peaks, respectively. In addition, the experimental results on the optical properties were validated using the Judd-Ofelt (J−O) analyses. The obtained J−O intensity parameters (Ω_λ with λ = 2, 4, 6) confirmed the structural changes in the host network due to the Sm³⁺ doping. The value of Ω₂ for the studied glasses indicated the covalent and asymmetric nature of the Sm³⁺− O² linkages. The achieved J−O radiative parameters (quality factor, branching ratio and stimulated emission cross-section) were highest for the glass made with 0.5 mol% of Sm³⁺, demonstrating its lasing potency. The proposed glass compositions may be beneficial for the photonic devices.     

Structural and luminescence properties of Dy3+ ion in strontium lithium bismuth borate glasses

Different concentrations of dysprosium doped strontium lithium bismuth borate (SLBiB) glasses were synthesized by the conventional melt quenching method and characterized through X-ray diffraction, Raman, absorption and visible luminescence spectroscopies. These Dy³⁺ doped glasses are studied for their utility for white light emitting diodes. X-ray diffraction studies revealed amorphous nature of the studied glass matrices. Coexistence of trigonal BO₃ and tetrahedral BO₄ units was evidenced by Raman spectroscopy. From the absorption spectra, Judd–Ofelt (J–O) intensity parameters, Ω_λ (λ=2, 4 and 6), have been calculated. The hypersensitivity of the transition, ⁶H_15/2→⁶F_11/2 of Dy³⁺ has been discussed based on the magnitude of Ω₂ parameter. Using J–O intensity parameters, several radiative properties such as spontaneous transition probabilities (A_R), radiative branching ratios (β_R) and radiative lifetimes (τ_R) have been determined. From the emission spectra, a strong blue emission that corresponds to the transition, ⁴F_9/2→⁶H_15/2, was observed and it also shows combination of blue, yellow and red emission bands for these glasses. In addition to that, white light emission region have been observed from these studies.     

Physicochemical, structural and fluorescence properties of Er-doped Ge-S-Ga glasses

Erbium-doped (GeS₂)_x(Ga₂S₃)_100−x (x=75, 80, 85, 90 mol%) glasses have been characterized by some basic parameters, which are important from a practical point of view. The influence of Er by introduction of 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 mol% Er₂S₃ on the properties has been studied. The glasses have relatively high glass transition temperatures and high thermal stability, the maximal being at x=80 (the difference between the crystallization and glass transition temperatures has been found to be 150 °C. The values of Vickers microhardness and density increase with increasing GeS₂ content, slightly depending on the presence of the Er³⁺ ions. The distribution and changes of the structural units, caused by addition of Ga₂S₃ and Er₂S₃ to GeS₂, have been specified by the Raman scattering in the range 50-550 cm⁻¹. The intensity dependence of the luminescence on glass composition has been evaluated. The glasses have shown a good chemical durability and their resistance to the moisture is relatively high. The obtained results have supported possible applications of these glasses in rare-earth doped devices.     

Fe3+离子在钠-硼玻璃中的顺磁共振

研究了Fe³⁺离子在钠-硼玻璃中的顺磁共振。在表观g=4.27处,有一条尖锐的大致对称的共振线。实验结果表明Fe³⁺离子代替接触二个钠离子的[BO₄]四面体中的硼离子位置。     

Optical transitions and frequency upconversions of Ho and Ho/Yb ions in Al(NO3)3-SiO2 sol-gel glasses

Infrared-to-visible upconversion processes and Judd Ofelt intensity parameters were analyzed for Ho³⁺ singly doped and Ho³⁺/Yb³⁺ co-doped Al(NO₃)₃-SiO₂ glasses with a fixed Ho³⁺ and Yb³⁺ concentrations prepared by sol-gel method. Blue and intense green upconversion emissions centered at 467 and 538 nm, corresponding to the and transitions, respectively, were observed under 800 nm excitation. The analysis of the dynamics of upconversion emissions suggest excited state absorption, energy transfer and back transfer as the possible causes for the observed transitions. Significant enhancement of upconversion intensities in Ho³⁺/Yb³⁺ co-doped glass compared to the Ho³⁺ singly doped one confirms efficient energy transfer between Yb³⁺ and Ho³⁺ ions. Intense upconversion emissions shown by the glasses in the present study indicate their potential in upconversion device applications.