Influence of alkali and alkaline earths on structural and luminescence properties of Sm3+ doped lithium fluoro phosphate glass and different (Na, Mg, K, Ca and Sr) glass ceramics

Transparent glass ceramics comprising of BiPO4 nanocrystals in bismuth phosphate glass ceramics (59.5P(2)O(5)+15Bi(2)O(3)+10BaF(2)+10AF+05TeO(2)+0.5Sm(2)O(3) where AF= alkali and alkaline earth fluorides) doped with Sm3+ ions were synthesized by typical melt quenching route. On the basis of data obtained from differential thermal analysis (DTA), prepared samples were analyzed for their thermal stability. Further powder X-Ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis has been done for all the samples to confirm the crystalline phase of BiPO4 and short-range order i.e., isotropic. Validations of various structural units were done with the help of FTIR. Spectral intensities were obtained using Judd-Ofelt (JO) theory for various absorption bands of Sm3+ ions using least square fit method for all the studied glass and glass ceramics. Various optical parameters of Sm3+ doped lithium phosphate glass and various glass ceramics were obtained from emission and absorption spectra studied in the present work. Theses optical parameters include JO intensity parameters (Omega(2), Omega(4) and Omega(6)), radiative transition probabilites (A(ed)), branching ratios (beta), emission cross sections (sigma(e)), absorption cross sections (Sigma),gain bandwidths and optical gains (sigma(e) x Delta lambda(eff) and sigma(e) x tau(R) respectively). Influence of alkali and alkaline earths metals on radiation properties of various excited levels of Sm3+ has been investigated. In relation to the other glass networks and ceramics, SrF2 glass ceramics studied in the present work exhibited productive properties and could be useful in development of optical devices for visible laser applications.

Automated summary

This study synthesized transparent glass ceramics doped with Sm3+ ions in BiPO4 nanocrystals, analyzing their thermal stability and crystalline phase. FTIR was used for structural unit validation, while Judd-Ofelt theory was applied to obtain spectral intensities and optical parameters, studying the influence of alkali and alkaline earths metals on Sm3+ excited levels. SrF2 glass ceramics showed promising properties in optical devices for visible laser applications compared to other glass networks and ceramics.