Erbium(III) ion-doped borate-based glasses for 1.53 µm broad band applications.

Novel erbium(III) ion-doped borate-based glasses (Er3+ :BCNF) by conventional melt-quenching technique were designed and synthesized. The glasses were characterized for their structural, vibrational and spectroscopic properties. The nephelauxetic ratio, bonding parameters, and Judd-Ofelt (JO) intensity parameters (Ωλ λ = 2, 4 and 6) were determined by using absorption spectrum of 1 mol% Er2 O3 doped glass. These JO parameters were utilized to derive radiative properties for various excited states of erbium(III) ions. Emission cross-section for 4 I13/2 → 4 I15/2 transition of erbium(III) ions was computed through McCumber theory. The decay curves for (2 H11/2 , 4 S3/2 ) and 4 I13/2 levels were recorded and analysed. All the results of Er3+ :BCNF glasses revealed that the studied glasses are efficient and thermally stable and could be suitable for display devices, optical amplification and green laser applications.

Spectral investigations on Eu3+ ,Sm3+ -doped and Sm3+ /Eu3+ co-doped potassium-fluoro-phosphate glass emitting intense orange-red for lighting applications.

Potassium fluoro-phosphate (KFP) glass singly doped with different concentrations of europium (Eu3+ ) or samarium (Sm3+ ) or co-doped (Sm3+ /Eu3+ ) was prepared, and their luminescence spectra were investigated. The phase composition of the product was verified by X-ray diffraction analysis. Optical transition properties of Eu3+ in the studied potassium phosphate glass were evaluated in the framework of the Judd-Ofelt theory. The radiative transition rates (AR ), fluorescence branching ratios (ß), stimulated emission cross-sections (σe ) and lifetimes (τexp ) for certain transitions or levels were evaluated. Red emission of Eu3+ was exhibited mainly by the 5 D0 →7 F2 transition located at 612 nm. Concentration quenching and energy transfer were observed from fluorescence spectra and decay curves, respectively. It was found that the lifetimes of the 5 D0 level increased with increase in concentration and then decreased. By co-doping with Sm3+ , energy transfer from Sm3+ to Eu3+ occurred and contributed to the enhancement in emission intensity. Intense orange-red light emission was obtained upon sensitizing with Sm3+ in KFP glass. This approach shows significant promise for use in reddish-orange lighting applications. The optimized properties of the Sm3+ /Eu3+ co-doped potassium phosphate glass might be promising for optical materials.