Structural and optical studies on Eu3+ doped boro-tellurite glasses

Abstract

Eu3+ doped boro-tellurite glasses (69 − x)B2O3 + xTeO2 + 15Na2CO3 + 15NaF + 1Eu2O3 (where x = 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 wt%) have been prepared and their structural and optical properties were studied through XRD, FTIR, absorption, luminescence and decay time measurements. The FTIR spectra reveal the presence of B–O–B bond bending vibrations and Te–O–Te or O–Te–O linkage bending vibrations in the prepared glasses. The absorption spectral measurements were used to calculate the bonding parameters (β¯, δ). The direct, indirect allowed band gap (Eopt), band tail parameter (B) and Urbach energy (ΔE) values of the prepared glasses have also been determined from the absorption spectral measurements. The phonon sideband is observed from the excitation spectra on the higher energy side of the 7F0 → 5D2 transition. The phonon energy (hω) and the electron–phonon coupling constant (g) were also derived from the phonon sideband spectra. Through the luminescence spectra, Judd–Ofelt (JO) intensity parameters (Ωλ, λ = 2, 4 and 6) and the luminescence intensity ratio (R) have been determined. The JO parameters have also been used to calculate the radiative properties like transition probability (A), stimulated emission cross-section (σPE), radiative lifetime (τrad), and branching ratios (βR) for the 5D0 → 7FJ (J = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4) emission transitions of the Eu3+ ions. The experimental lifetime of the 5D0 level is found to be single exponential for all the prepared glasses. The obtained results were discussed and reported in the present work.