Influence of Oxide Glass Modifiers on the Structural and Spectroscopic Properties of Phosphate Glasses for Visible and Near-Infrared Photonic Applications

The effect of oxide modifiers on multiple properties (structural and spectroscopic) of phosphate glasses with molar composition 60P(2)O(5)-(10−x)Ga(2)O(3)-30MO-xEu(2)O(3) and 60P(2)O(5)-(10−y)Ga(2)O(3)-30MO-yEr(2)O(3) (where M = Ca, Sr, Ba; x = 0, 0.5; y = 0, 1) were systematically examined and discussed. The local structure of systems was evidenced by the infrared (IR-ATR) and Raman spectroscopic techniques. The spectroscopic behaviors of the studied glass systems were determined based on analysis of recorded spectra (excitation and emission) as well as luminescence decay curves. Intense red and near-infrared emissions (1.5 μm) were observed for samples doped with Eu(3+) and Er(3+) ions, respectively. It was found that the value of fluorescence intensity ratio R/O related to (5)D(0)→(7)F(2) (red) and (5)D(0)→(7)F(1) (orange) transition of Eu(3+) ions depends on the oxide modifiers MO in the glass host. However, no clear influence of glass modifiers on the luminescence linewidth (FWHM) was observed for phosphate systems doped with Er(3+) ions. Moreover, the (5)D(0) and (4)I(13/2) luminescence lifetimes of Eu(3+) and Er(3+) ions increase with the increasing ionic radius of M(2+) (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) in the host matrix. The obtained results suggest the applicability of the phosphate glasses with oxide modifiers as potential red and near-infrared photoluminescent materials in photonic devices.