Structural and luminescence investigations on Sm3+ doped sodium fluoroborate glasses containing alkali/alkaline earth metal oxides

Structural and luminescence behavior of the Sm3+ doped 49B(2)O(3)+25xCO(3)+25NaF+1Sm(2)O(3), (where x=Li-2, Na-2, K-2, Ca and Mg) glasses have been studied and reported. Structural analysis of the prepared glasses was made through FTIR spectra and their optical properties were studied using optical absorption, luminescence and lifetime measurements. The bonding parameters and the oscillator strengths were determined from the absorption spectra. These parameters have been used to obtain the Judd-Ofelt parameters. Using the Judd-Ofelt parameters, radiative properties such as transition probability (A), stimulated emission cross section (sigma(E)(P)) and branching ratio's (beta(R)) for the trivalent samarium ions corresponding to their (4)G(5/2) -> H-6(J) (J = 5/2, 7/2, 9/2 and 11/2) excited state transitions have been calculated and reported. The decay curve of the (4)G(5/2) -> H-6(7/2) transition exhibits non-exponential behavior. The non-exponential behavior has been attributed to the energy transfer through cross-relaxation between adjacent Sm3+ ions. The lifetime of the (4)G(5/2) level is found to be comparatively less than that of the reported Sm3+ glasses and the same is due to the presence of OH groups, which is confirmed through the FTIR spectral studies. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.