X-ray and UV irradiation effects on Ce3+ ion doped in UV sensitive glass

Abstract

Introduction Cerium, Ag-doped Li2O-Na2O-K2O-SiO2-Al2O3 glass is used as UV-sensitive glass for chemical etching. When UV radiation irradiated on this glass, Ag ion is reduced to Ag atom. The role of Ce ion in this glass is considered to be a sensitizer which sensitize the reduction of Ag ion. The mechanism of the sensitization is considered to be oxidation of Ce ion. However the evidence of oxidation of Ce ion has not been known yet. The peak of x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra of rare earth assigned to 2p 5d transition are separated by the valence. Based on this fact, Shimizugawa et al. showed that Eu ion doped in borate glass converted to Eu ion due to x-ray irradiation by Eu LIII XANES[1] and that Eu 3+ ion and Sm ion doped in aluminoborate glasses are reduced to Eu ion and Sm ion, respectedly.[2] If UV irradiation effect on Ce ion in the glass is photo-induced oxidation, LIII XANES study can reveal the mechanism of the sensitization. Therefore we studied this glass by Ce LIII XANES before and after x-ray or UV irradiation.