Tailoring Variations in the Microstructures, Linear/Nonlinear Optical, and Mechanical Properties of Dysprosium-Oxide-Reinforced Borate Glasses

Hybrid dysprosium-doped borate glassy samples [B-Gly/Dy](HDG) (Borate Glass/Dysprosium)(Hybrid Doped Glass) were prepared in this study via the melt-quenching method. Its linear/nonlinear optical, photoluminescence, hardness indentation, and micro-creep properties were analyzed. The amorphous structure for all the prepared samples was confirmed from the XRD patterns. In addition, density functional theory (DFT), optimized by TD-DFT and Crystal Sleuth, was used to study the structure and crystallinity of the [B-Gly/Dy](HDG) as isolated molecules and agreed with the peaks of experimental XRD patterns. Additionally, theoretical lattice types were studied using Polymorph, a content studio software, and orthorhombic Pc21b (29) and triclinic P-1 (2) structures were provided. Both mechanical and optical properties were responses to different concentrations of Dy2O3 in the glassy borate system. It was found that the length of indentation increases by increasing the load time, and the hardness decreases by increasing the load time. The stress exponent value also increased from 4.1 to 6.3. The indentation strain increases by increasing the load time. The direct optical band gap was evaluated using the Davis-Mott relation. Urbach energy and its connection to the disorder degree in materials were studied depending on the Dy2O3 concentration. The acquired optical parameters were also analyzed to determine the nonlinear refractive index as well as the linear and third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of the investigated glass samples. The photoluminescence emission spectra were recorded, and their attributed transitions were studied. The mechanical studies showed that the hardness values increased by increasing Dy2O3 concentrations from 4160.54 to 5631.58 Mpa. The stress exponent value also increased from 4.1 to 6.3. Therefore, the higher value of stress exponent (S) is more resistant to indentation creep.

Automated summary

Hybrid dysprosium-doped borate glass samples were prepared and their optical, photoluminescence, hardness indentation, and micro-creep properties were analyzed. The amorphous structure of the samples was confirmed through XRD patterns. Theoretical analysis and experimental results were in agreement. The mechanical and optical properties were found to be dependent on the concentration of Dy2O3 in the glass system. The study also investigated the photoluminescence emission spectra and mechanical properties, showing increased hardness values and stress exponent values with increasing Dy2O3 concentrations.