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.

Linear-nonlinear optical and quantum chemical studies on Quinolinium 3,5-dinitrobenzoate: A novel third order non-linear optical material for optoelectronic applications.

An organic non-linear optical (NLO) crystal of Quinolinium 3,5-dinitrobenzoate (DNBAQ) was synthesized and good quality single crystals of DNBAQ were grown by conventional slow evaporation solution growth technique. Single crystal XRD was utilized to confirm the formation of the charge transfer complex. The crystalline property and the presence of required functional groups was verified employing Powder XRD and FTIR spectral analysis. UV-Vis-NIR and Fluorescence study was performed to determine the optical transmittance and the emission property of the grown crystal. The thermal, mechanical and surface damage threshold stability of the complex was analysed using thermal studies, Vicker's micro hardness studies and Laser damage threshold measurement. The solid state parameter of electronic polarizability of DNBAQ compound was computed through dielectric studies. The non-linear optical characterizations like Kurtz Perry powder technique and Z-Scan technique ensures the non-linear optical activity of the compound. The frequency conversion efficiency of the grown crystal was estimated to be 70% that of the standard Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate (KDP). Z-Scan analysis confirms the suitability of the grown crystal for optical limiting and switching applications. Quantum chemical studies were adopted on the optimized geometry of DNBAQ molecule using Density Functional Theory (DFT). Frontier Molecular Orbital (FMO) analysis and Molecular Electrostatic Potential (MEP) analysis were performed. The non-linear optical behaviour of the complex was established by evaluating dipole moment, polarizability and hyperpolarizability features. All the above results confirm the resourceful candidature of DNBAQ material for optoelectronic and photonic applications.

Structural and optical absorption studies on Cr2O3 doped SrO-P2O5 glasses.

Cr2O3 doped glasses in the system xCr2O3-(60-x) P2O5-40SrO, where x = 0.0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 & 0.6 mol% were prepared and investigated by X-ray, UV-Vis, and FT infrared spectroscopy. According to the X-ray data, no sharp peaks can be observed, but only abroad halo which points the amorphous nature of the glass samples. Optical absorptions have shown that Cr ions are present in two possible oxidation states (trivalent & hexavalent). Increasing Cr2O3 concentrations in the glass network cause a reduction in the indirect and direct optical energy gap of prepared samples from 3.94-3.5 eV and 4.92-4.4 eV, respectively. This behavior is related to the network forming ability of Cr2O3. FTIR spectra of Cr2O3 containing glass showed some differences compared to base glass samples. In addition, calculated physical and optical parameters reveals a close similarity to base glass that can be correlated to the minor addition of Cr2O3.

Microstructure, local electronic structure and optical behaviour of zinc ferrite thin films on glass substrate.

Zinc ferrite thin films were deposited using a radio-frequency-sputtering method on glass substrates. As-deposited films were annealed at 200°C for 1, 3 and 5 h, respectively. X-ray diffraction studies revealed the amorphous nature of as-grown and annealed films. Thickness of as-deposited film is 96 nm as determined from Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy which remains almost invariant with annealing. Transmission electron microscopic investigations envisaged a low degree of crystalline order in as-deposited and annealed films. Thicknesses estimated from these measurements were almost 62 nm. Roughness values of these films were almost 1-2 nm as determined from atomic force microscopy. X-ray reflectivity measurements further support the results obtained from TEM and AFM. Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure measurements envisaged 3+ and 2+ valence states of Fe and Zn ions in these films. UV-Vis spectra of these films were characterized by a sharp absorption in the UV region. All films exhibited almost the same value of optical band gap within experimental error, which is close to 2.86 eV.

Hybridization of Zinc Oxide Tetrapods for Selective Gas Sensing Applications.

In this work, the exceptionally improved sensing capability of highly porous three-dimensional (3-D) hybrid ceramic networks toward reducing gases is demonstrated for the first time. The 3-D hybrid ceramic networks are based on doped metal oxides (MexOy and ZnxMe1-xOy, Me = Fe, Cu, Al) and alloyed zinc oxide tetrapods (ZnO-T) forming numerous junctions and heterojunctions. A change in morphology of the samples and formation of different complex microstructures is achieved by mixing the metallic (Fe, Cu, Al) microparticles with ZnO-T grown by the flame transport synthesis (FTS) in different weight ratios (ZnO-T:Me, e.g., 20:1) followed by subsequent thermal annealing in air. The gas sensing studies reveal the possibility to control and change/tune the selectivity of the materials, depending on the elemental content ratio and the type of added metal oxide in the 3-D ZnO-T hybrid networks. While pristine ZnO-T networks showed a good response to H2 gas, a change/tune in selectivity to ethanol vapor with a decrease in optimal operating temperature was observed in the networks hybridized with Fe-oxide and Cu-oxide. In the case of hybridization with ZnAl2O4, an improvement of H2 gas response (to ∼7.5) was reached at lower doping concentrations (20:1), whereas the increase in concentration of ZnAl2O4 (ZnO-T:Al, 10:1), the selectivity changes to methane CH4 gas (response is about 28). Selectivity tuning to different gases is attributed to the catalytic properties of the metal oxides after hybridization, while the gas sensitivity improvement is mainly associated with additional modulation of the electrical resistance by the built-in potential barriers between n-n and n-p heterojunctions, during adsorption and desorption of gaseous species. Density functional theory based calculations provided the mechanistic insights into the interactions between different hybrid networks and gas molecules to support the experimentally observed results. The studied networked materials and sensor structures performances would provide particular advantages in the field of fundamental research, applied physics studies, and industrial and ecological applications.

Effect of annealing temperature on optical properties of binary zinc tin oxide nano-composite prepared by sol-gel route using simple precursors: structural and optical studies by DRS, FT-IR, XRD, FESEM investigations.

Binary zinc tin oxide nano-composite was synthesized by a facile sol-gel method using simple precursors from the solutions consisting of zinc acetate, tin(IV) chloride and ethanol. Effect of annealing temperature on optical and structural properties was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). XRD results revealed the existence of the ZnO and SnO2 phases. FESEM results showed that binary zinc tin oxide nano-composites ranges from 56 to 60 nm in diameter at 400°C and 500°C annealing temperatures respectively. The optical band gap was increased from 2.72 eV to 3.11 eV with the increasing of the annealing temperature. FTIR results confirmed the presence of zinc oxide and tin oxide and the broad absorption peaks at 3426 and 1602 cm(-1) can be ascribed to the vibration of absorptive water, and the absorption peaks at 546, 1038 and 1410 cm(-1) are due to the vibration of Zn-O or Sn-O groups in binary zinc tin oxide.

Study on optical properties of l-valine doped ADP crystal.

Single crystal of l-valine doped ammonium dihydrogen phosphate has been grown by slow evaporation method at room temperature. The crystalline nature of the grown crystal was confirmed using powder X-ray diffraction technique. The different functional groups of the grown crystal were identified using Fourier transform infrared analysis. The UV-visible studies were employed to examine the high optical transparency and influential optical constants for tailoring materials suitability for optoelectronics applications. The cutoff wavelength of the title crystal was found to be 280nm with wide optical band gap of 4.7eV. The dielectric measurements were carried to determine the dielectric constant and dielectric loss at room temperature. The grown crystal has been characterized by thermogravimetric analysis. The second harmonic generation efficiency of the grown crystal was determined by the classical Kurtz powder technique and it is found to be 1.92 times that of potassium dihydrogen phosphate. The grown crystal was identified as third order nonlinear optical material employing Z-scan technique using He-Ne laser operating at 632.8nm.