X-RAYS LUMINESCENCE, OPTICAL AND PHYSICAL STUDIES OF BI2O3-B₂O₃-SM₂O₃ GLASSES SYSTEM

Sm³⁺-doped bismuth borate glasses of the composition (50-x) SiO₂: 50B₂O₃: xSm₂O₃ (where x = 0.00, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50, 2.00 and 2.50 mol%) have been synthesized by conventional melt quenching technique. In order to understand the role of Sm₂O₃ in bismuth borate glasses, the density, molar volume, refractive index and optical absorption were investigated. The results show that density, molar volume and refractive index of glasses increased with increasing Sm₂O₃ concentration. The increase of molar volume with Sm₂O₃ concentration is due to the increase of Non-Bridging Oxygen (NBOs) in the glass matrix. The optical absorption spectra were measured in the wavelength range from 300-1100 nm and the optical band gaps were determined. It was found that the optical band gap decreased with the increase of Sm₂O₃ concentration. Moreover, the x-rays luminescence of Sm₂O₃ glasses samples were measured and shows emission band at ⁴G_5/2→⁶H_5/2 (569 nm), ⁴G_5/2→⁶H_7/2 (598 nm), ⁴G_5/2→⁶H_9/2 (641 nm) and ⁴G_5/2→⁶H1_1/2 (705 nm). This investigation have been used as the basis for developing optical amplifier or glass scintillator.