Spectroscopic properties and lasing potentialities of Sm3+ doped multi-component borate glasses

Abstract

Trivalent Sm3+ doped multi-component borate glasses 10ZnO -20PbO-10Na2O-(60-x) B2O3-xSm2O3 (where x=0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2 mol %) were made and assessed for their applications in the field of lasers and photonic devices. Various techniques were undertaken and the spectra (XRD, FTIR, UV–Vis–NIR, PL and CIE chromaticity coordinates) were recorded to study the relevant properties of prepared glasses. Non-appearance of sharp peaks in the XRD spectra established that the prepared samples have amorphous structure. The density (ρ) of the glasses showed a direct proportionality to the concentration of Sm3+ ion owing to many factors including the higher molecular weight of Sm2O3 as compared to B2O3. On the other hand, the molar volume (Vm), polaron radius (rp), internuclear distance (ri) and mean boron–boron distance (<dB−B>) exhibited a decrease when the Sm3+ ions were increased. FTIR spectra revealed bands corresponding to the standard vibrations of borate network and pointed towards the occurrence of more BO3 units for the glass containing 1 mol% of Sm2O3 (ZS1.00). The laser potentiality and photonic device suitability of undertaken glasses was arbitrated through the Judd–Ofelt theory. A higher regularity of ligand field around the Sm3+ ion was found for glass containing 1 mol% Sm2O3. The radiative parameters of the synthesized glass system have been found to be apt for lasing and photonic applications. However, the optimized concentration of Sm2O3 in the undertaken glass host is found to be 1 mol%, thus indicating the utility of ZS1.00 glass for devices emitting in the reddish-orange region.