EPR spectroscopy and structural investigations, of Eu2+-doped chloroborate glass-ceramic

Europium doped (0.1% and 1%) chlomborate BaO-B2O3-BaCl2 glass and glass-ceramic with embedded BaCl2 nanocrystals have been synthesised, investigated, and compared with the corresponding nanocrystalline powder. The structural analysis of the glass evidenced ionic bonds characteristic to the glass host structure and compositional changes during the melting. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of orthorhombic BaCl2 nanocrystals of about tens on nm in size and a smaller amount of BaB2O4 nanocrystals. Structural analysis of the Eu2+-doped BaCl2 nanocrystals has shown a distortion of the crystalline cell assigned to the growth process, affected by defects and ionic impurities. Photoluminescence spectra of the glass-ceramic revealed Eu3+ and Eu2+ luminescent ion species, but only Eu2+ is incorporated within the BaCl2 nanocrystalline phase. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements in X-band sustain the presence of Eu2+ ions. The EPR parameters (g values and hyperfine constants) resulting from the Q-band EPR spectra simulations recorded on glass-ceramic are similar to those in Eu2+-doped BaCl2 and confirmed the partial incorporation of Eu2+ ions within the BaCl2:Eu2+ nanocrystals in the glass-ceramics.

Automated summary

Europium-doped chlomborate BaO-B2O3-BaCl2 glasses and glass-ceramics with embedded BaCl2 nanocrystals have been synthesized, investigated, and compared with nanocrystalline powders. Structural analysis revealed the formation of BaCl2 nanocrystals in the glass and glass-ceramic, with distortion of the crystalline cell due to growth processes. Photoluminescence spectra showed the presence of Eu3+ and Eu2+ luminescent ions in the glass-ceramic, with only Eu2+ incorporated within the BaCl2 nanocrystalline phase.