Influence of europium (Eu3+) ions on the optical properties of silver lead borate glasses

The influence of europium (Eu3+) ions on the optical properties of silver lead borate glasses of the xEu(2)O(3)-(1-x)Ag2O-29PbO-70B(2)O(3) (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mol%) glass system prepared by the conventional melt quenching technique and their physical and optical properties were investigated. The UV absorption spectra were recorded at room temperature in the wavelength range of 200-600 nm. From the absorption edge data, it is found that both the direct and indirect transitions and their values are ranging from 3.19 to 3.54 and 2.50 to 3.07 eV, respectively. The Urbach energy values for these glasses were found to be in the range of 0.39-0.52 eV. The refractive indices have also been evaluated with respect to different molar concentrations of Eu2O3 and their calculated values are ranging from 1.598 to 1.654.