Structural and optical study on antimony-silicate glasses doped with thulium ions

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Optical Materials
• Glass Science

Background:

• Thulium (Tm³⁺) doped glasses are crucial for optical applications, particularly in the infrared spectrum.
• Antimony-silicate glasses offer unique properties like low phonon energy, beneficial for luminescence.
• Understanding the role of glass composition, specifically the SiO₂/Sb₂O₃ ratio, is key to optimizing Tm³⁺ doped materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the structural, thermal, and luminescence properties of SiO₂-Al₂O₃-Sb₂O₃-Na₂O glass system doped with Tm₂O₃.
• To determine the effect of varying the SiO₂/Sb₂O₃ ratio on the characteristics of Tm³⁺ doped antimony-silicate glasses.
• To analyze the relationship between glass structure, phonon energy, and luminescence performance.

Main Methods:

• Conventional high-temperature melt-quenching method for glass synthesis.
• Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for structural analysis and phonon energy determination.
• Spectroscopic measurements to evaluate luminescence properties, including emission bands and intensity.

Main Results:

• Antimony ions were identified as the primary glass-forming species, establishing the glass lattice.
• Low phonon energy (600 cm⁻¹) was achieved, indicating reduced non-radiative decay.
• Luminescence at 1.8 μm (³F₄→³H₆ transition) was observed for Tm³⁺ ions under 795 nm pumping.
• Increased separation of Tm³⁺ ions and low phonon energy led to a decrease in luminescence intensity at 1800 nm.

Conclusions:

• The SiO₂/Sb₂O₃ ratio significantly influences the thermal, structural, and optical properties of Tm³⁺ doped antimony-silicate glasses.
• While low phonon energy is beneficial, optimizing the concentration and distribution of Tm³⁺ ions is critical for enhancing luminescence efficiency.
• These findings provide insights for designing advanced Tm³⁺ doped glasses for infrared applications.