Photoinduced redox-reactions and transmission changes in glasses doped with 4d- and 5d-ions

Abstract

(Fluoride)phosphate and borosilicate glasses of high intrinsic transparency in the deep ultraviolet (UV), were doped with 50–5000ppm of the 4d- and 5d-ions Zr, Nb, Ta, Mo, or W. All of these ions absorb strongly in the UV. Samples plates were irradiated by UV lasers and the as a consequence generated various extrinsic and intrinsic defects were characterized by optical and EPR spectroscopy. The laser induced transmission changes depend not only on the glass matrix, but also on the valence of the dopants. Only fully oxidized d0-ions are observed in fluoroaluminate glasses. Laser irradiation photoreduces the d0-ions to extrinsic electron-centers (EC). Laser induced transmission changes extend from the UV up to 600nm in the visible. The dopants are easily reduced to lower valences in metaphosphate glasses. Extrinsic hole centers (HC) replace intrinsic HC in samples containing the reduced transition metal ions. The strong transmission changes seen below 300nm arise from intrinsic EC and extrinsic HC. The few remaining intrinsic HC (300–600nm) recombine rapidly with EC or transform into more stable extrinsic HC. Borosilicate glasses show the formation of intrinsic boron oxygen hole center in the EPR spectra and of intrinsic HC and EC in the optical spectra. The d1-ion Mo5+ is the only identified reduced dopant species in the borosilicate glasses. The band intensity of intrinsic EC in relation to intrinsic HC is correspondingly highest for the Mo-doped samples, in which extrinsic HC are generated.