Reddish-orange emission from Pr3+ doped zinc alumino bismuth borate glasses

Praseodymium doped Zinc Alumino Bismuth Borate (ZnAlBiB) glasses were prepared by melt quenching technique and characterized by optical absorption and emission studies. The glassy nature of these glasses has been confirmed through XRD spectral measurements. From the absorption spectra, the Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Omega(lambda) (lambda=2, 4 and 6) and other radiative properties like transition probability (A(R)), radiative lifetimes (tau(R)) and branching ratios (beta(R)) have been evaluated. Emission spectra were measured for different concentrations of Pr3+ ions doped glasses by exciting the glasses at 445 nm. The intensity of Pr3+ emission spectra increases from 0.1 to 1 mol% and beyond 1 mol% concentration quenching is observed. The suitable concentration of Pr3+ ions in ZnAlBiB glasses to act as a good lasing material at reddish-orange wavelength (604 nm) region has been discussed by measuring the emission cross-sections for the intense emission transition D-1(2) -> H-3(4). The CIE chromaticity co-ordinates were also evaluated from the emission spectra for all the glasses to understand the suitability of these materials for reddish-orange emission. From the measured emission cross-sections and CIE chromaticity co-ordinates, it was found that 1 mol% of Pr3+ is aptly suitable for the development of visible reddish-orange lasers. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.