Dy3+ doped SiO2-B2O3-Al2O3-NaF-ZnF2 glasses: An exploration of optical and gamma radiation shielding features

Abstract A series of Dy3+ doped zinc-aluminoborosilicate glasses with chemical composition 30SiO2-(30-x) B2O3–10Al2O3–15NaF–15ZnF2-xDy2O3 (x = 0, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0 and 1.5 mol %) were prepared by conventional melt-quenching method. Structural and optical properties of the glasses were analyzed through XRD, FTIR, UV–Visible–NIR and luminescence studies. Gamma radiation shielding parameters were obtained using PSD software. Nephelauxetic ratio (β) and bonding parameters (δ) calculated using absorption spectrum shows the decreasing ionic nature of the Dy ions. Judd-Oflet parameters (Ω2, Ω4 and Ω6) obtained shows the covalency and asymmetric nature of dysprosium ions. The luminescence properties shows that Dy3+ doped glasses have two strong intense emission at blue (482 nm) and yellow (575 nm) region. Branching ratio and stimulated emission cross section calculated suggests the glasses suitability to act as lasing material. CIE colour coordinates and its colour correlated temperature (CCT) for the glasses were estimated and found that these prepared glasses lie in the warm white light region.