Optical, photoluminescence and physical properties of Sm3+ doped lead alumino phosphate glasses

Sm3+ doped lead alumino phosphate glass samples have been synthesized by melt quenching technique. XRD pattern confirm non-crystalline structure of all the synthesized glass samples. These samples were further used to measure some physical and optical properties viz. density, molar volume, optical band gap, refractive index and polarizability. Absorption, excitation and emission spectra of the selected glass samples were obtained using UV-visible and photoluminescence spectrophotometers. A shift in excitation wavelength range to short wavelength region (208 nm) at high concentration of PbO is observed owing to the energy transfer mechanism from Pb2+ ion to Sm3+ ion; which confirm enhanced energy down conversion. In addition to four prominent emission transitions at 565 nm, 595 nm, 640 nm and 709 nm, one more peak appears at 685 nm which attributes the transitions from D-5(0) to F-7(0) in Sm2+ ion. The high absorption intensity in UV region and strong emission of red light has been observed for all the glass samples. Higher densities for the synthesized glass samples were observed due to presence of lead (Pb-82). The glasses have potential application in developing high energy electromagnetic radiation sensors. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.