Tailored spectroscopic characteristics of a new type of CuO nanoparticles-inserted borate glass system: Samarium...

The demand for new glass hosts with emergent properties is constantly growing for various miniaturized applications. Thus, some new types of Sm₂O₃-activated strontium-telluro-alumino-magnesium-borate glasses with copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONps) insertion were made using melt-quenching approach. The obtained glasses were characterized to determine the effects of Sm₂O₃ concentration changes on their thermal, structural, and luminescence properties. XRD, FTIR, and HRTEM analyses of the samples verified their glassy nature, presence of different functional units and CuONps, respectively. DTA analysis showed excellent thermal stability of these glasses with a stability factor as much as 125 °C. The optical absorption properties of the glasses were highly sensitive to Sm³⁺ concentrations variation. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters of the glasses with and without CuONps followed the trend of Ω₆˃Ω₄˃Ω₂ and Ω₄˃Ω₆˃Ω₂, respectively. These glasses displayed 4 visible luminescence bands at 561, 598, 645, and 705 nm corresponding to ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_5/2, ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_7/2, ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_9/2, and ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_11/2 transitions in Sm³⁺. In addition, branching ratio above 80% and stimulated emission cross-section up to 135.82 × 10^-23 cm² were achieved. The stimulated emission cross-section and optical gain were enhanced due to the inclusion of CuONps in the glasses. These glasses may be useful for solid state laser and optical amplifier development.