Emission characteristics of Dy3+ ions in lead antimony borate glasses

Glasses with the composition 30PbO–25Sb₂O₃–(45?x)B₂O₃–xDy₂O₃ for x=0 to 1 were prepared in steps of 0.2 by the melt-quenching method. Various physical parameters, viz., density, molar volume, and oxygen packing density, were evaluated. Optical absorption and luminescence spectra of all the glasses were recorded at room temperature. From the observed absorption edges optical band gap, the Urbach energies are calculated; the optical band gap is found to decrease with the concentration of Dy₂O₃. The Judd–Ofelt theory was applied to characterize the absorption and luminescence spectra of Dy³⁺ ions in these glasses. Following the luminescence spectra, various radiative properties, like transition probability A, branching ratio β and the radiative life time τ for different emission levels of Dy³⁺ ions, have been evaluated. The radiative lifetime for the ⁴F_9/2 multiplet has also been evaluated from the recorded life time decay curves, and the quantum efficiencies were estimated for all the glasses. The quantum efficiency is found to increase with the concentration of Dy₂O₃.