Correlation of mechanical properties and crystal field parameters of europium-doped magnesium–zinc–sulfophosphate glasses

Europium-doped magnesium–zinc–sulfophosphate glasses of molar composition (65 − x) P2O5–20MgO–15ZnSO4–xEu2O3 (x = 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0) were prepared via melt-quenching method. The synthesized glasses were characterized at room temperature to determine the relationship between Racah and mechanical properties. The FTIR spectra of glasses in the range of 4000–400 cm−1 revealed the presence of characteristic functional groups. The Young’s, shear and bulk moduli of glasses were observed to enhance with the increase in Eu3+ contents. The ratio increased from 0.710 to 0.747 which confirms the increase in the degree of centrality of the glasses. Racah parameters evaluated from first three major absorption bands were reduced from 72.3906 to 60.1111 cm−1 with the increase in Europium contents, thus signifying the weakening in f–f electrons repulsion. Crystal field parameters decrease from 42.2445 to 35.2397 cm−1 denoting strong covalent character of ligand bond of the synthesized glass system. The synthesized glasses have potential for the development of hard surface engineering.