Composition dependent structural and optical properties of Sm3+ doped boro-tellurite glasses

Boro-tellurite glasses with the composition (69–x)H3BO3+xTeO2+15MgCO3+15K2CO3+1Sm2O3 (where x=0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 wt%) doped with trivalent samarium have been prepared and their structural and spectroscopic behavior were studied and reported. The FTIR spectra reveal the presence of BO3 and BO4 non-bridging oxygen as well as strong OH− bonds in the prepared glasses. Through the optical absorption spectra, Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters (Ωλ, λ=2, 4 and 6) have been evaluated and the same is in turn used to predict radiative properties such as radiative transition probability (A), stimulated emission cross-section (image) and branching ratios (βR) for the excited levels of Sm3+ ions corresponding to 4G5/2→6H5/2, 4G5/2→6H7/2, 4G5/2→6H9/2 and 4G5/2→6H11/2 transitions. Structural and spectral dependence of the Sm3+ ions due to the compositional changes have been examined and reported. The lifetime of the 4G5/2 level is found to be non-exponential for all the prepared glasses indicating a cross-relaxation among the Sm3+ ions. The structural and spectroscopic results corresponding to compositional changes have been compared with the similar studies and reported.