Transition Metals (Cr(3+)) and Lanthanides (Eu(3+)) in Inorganic Glasses with Extremely Different Glass-Formers B(2)O(3) and GeO(2)

Glasses containing two different network-forming components and doped with optically active ions exhibit interesting properties. In this work, glass systems based on germanium dioxide and boron trioxide singly doped with lanthanides (Eu(3+)) and transition metals (Cr(3+)) ions are research subjects. Optical spectroscopy was the major research tool used to record excitation and emission spectra in a wide spectral range for studied systems. The emitted radiation of glasses doped with Cr(3+) ions is dominated by broadband luminescence centered at 770 nm and 1050 nm ((4)T(2) → (4)A(2)). Interestingly, the increase of concentration of one of the oxides contributed to the detectable changes of the R-line ((2)E → (4)A(2)) of Cr(3+) ions. Moreover, EPR spectroscopy confirmed the paramagnetic properties of the obtained glasses. The influence of molar ratio GeO(2):B(2)O(3) on spectroscopic properties for Eu(3+) ions is discussed. The intensity of luminescence bands due to transitions of trivalent europium ions as well as the ratio R/O decrease with the increase of B(2)O(3). On the other hand, the increase in concentration B(2)O(3) influences the increasing tendency of luminescence lifetimes for the (5)D(0) state of Eu(3+) ions. The results will contribute to a better understanding of the role of the glass host and thus the prospects for new optical materials.