Structural, physical, thermal and optical spectroscopy studies of the europium doped strontium phosphate glasses

Abstract

The europium-doped strontium phosphate glasses are attractive for numerous applications, including lasers, light-emitting diode displays, photonic devices, optoelectronics, and solar cells. In the present study, we have focused on discovering the effect of the europium (Eu3+) dopant on the structural, physical, thermal, and optical properties of the strontium phosphate glasses. In this study, pure and europium-doped strontium phosphate glasses were synthesized by a conventional melt quenching method. Their structural and optical characterizations were performed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR), TGA, DTA, and photoluminescence. All of the glasses produced are amorphous, according to XRD measurements. FTIR showed that the addition of the europium content to the strontium phosphate glasses led to their depolymerization. This is what led to the shrinking of metaphosphate units and was followed by an increase in the number of pyrophosphate species. The study of the physical properties was evaluated from the measured density values. According to the progressive increase in the europium concentration, it was discovered that the density increased from 2.059 to 2.082 g/cm3, while the molar volume values reduced from 62.441 to 62.083 cm3/mol. The thermal measurements confirm that the prepared glasses have good thermal stability with a lower variation of the transition temperature Tg, which is varied between 422 and 429°C. Photoluminescence spectroscopy showed that all samples present the strongest emission peak, which is obtained at 611 nm (red) for the 5D0→7F2 transition. The prepared PSrEux glasses could potentially be used for laser, LED and photonic devices.