Optical, FT infrared and photoluminescence spectra of CeO2 – doped Na2O – ZnO – B2O3 host glass and effects of gamma irradiation

Abstract

Collective optical, FTIR and photoluminescence spectra of prepared (1 → 10) CeO2 doped Na2O – ZnO – B2O3 glasses have been examined before and after gamma irradiation doses 2 or 9 × 104 Gy (2 or 9 Mrad). Optical absorption spectrum of undoped glass reveals distinct UV absorption bands which are correlated with trace impurities of ferric ions. Upon gamma irradiation, the UV bands reveal limited changes accompanied with the generation of an induced visible band which is assumed to be due to (BOHC) or (NBOHC). The CeO2 – doped glasses show an additional UV band due to Ce3+ ions while the absorption for Ce4+ ions are assumed to be overlapped by the strong charge transfer absorption due to traces impurities of Fe3+ ions. The irradiated CeO2 – doped glasses reveal no induced visible band due to the efficiency of cerium ions to capture electrons and positive holes during the irradiation. The CeO2 – doped glasses show a distinct luminescence peak centered at 410 nm after excitation at 308 nm and its intensity increases with the CeO2. The optical parameters of the band gap energy and Urbach energy are found to change with the CeO2 content. FTIR spectra of the undoped and CeO2 – doped glasses are almost similar with minor variations in the intensities of some vibrational bands and they show vibrational modes due to both triangular and tetrahedral borate groups in their specific different wavenumbers. The IR spectra of the irradiated glasses reveal stability with minor variations in the intensities of some bands.