Synthesis and Characterization of Nd3+-Doped Indium-sodium Tetraborate Glasses

Glasses in the system xNd(2)O(3)center dot(10-x)In2O3 center dot 90Na(2)B(4)O(7) (with x=0, 1, 3, 5 mol%) were fabricated via a melt quenching technique. The amorphous nature of the quenched glasses was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction studies. The infrared spectra of the glasses show no boroxol ring formation in the structure of these glasses. Optical absorption of glasses shows that the transition (4)I9/2 ->(4)G(5/2)+(2)G(7/2) is more intense than the other transitions, which shifts from 580 nm (for the free Nd3+ ion) to 584 nm. The peak in fluorescence spectra for x=5 mol% Nd3+ in the region 800-900 nm under excitation wavelength 584 nm was attributed to F-4(3/2)-> I-4(9/2) transition. Differential thermal analysis for (x=5 mol% Nd3+) shows glass transition (ca. 600 degrees C) and crystallization temperatures (ca. 1155,975 degrees C). The scanning electron microscopy studies indicate the amorphous state of glass sample.