Comparison of structural, physical and optical properties of Na2O-B2O3 and Li2O-B2O3 glasses to find an advantageous host for CeO2 based optical and photonic applications

This study focuses on alkali oxide (lithium and sodium) glasses with an aim to explore suitable host for cerium ions which will enhance the optical properties like UV blocking efficiency. Conventional melt quench method was employed for making these glasses. FTIR results show conversion of BO3 to BO4 units and development of CeO4 groups with addition of CeO2. The increase in density values (2.10 to 2.67 g/cm(3) for sodium glasses and 2.04 to 2.75 g/cm(3) for Lithium glasses) and decrease in band gap values (3.16 to 2.40 eV for sodium glasses and 3.28 to 2.08 eV for Lithium glasses) in both glass systems confirm the modifier role of CeO2. Hardness of lithiumbased glasses (1366.91 Kg/mm(2)) at 4 mol% of CeO2 is higher than the glasses containing sodium (1007.21 Kg/ mm(2)). The obtained values of refractive index and transmittance show better suitability of CeO2 incorporated lithium glasses in some optical applications.