NIR luminescence features of Nd3+ ion in lithium antimonite glass system

Abstract Glasses of the composition 40Li2O‒(60-x)Sb2O3: xNd2O3(x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 mol%) were synthesized by melt quenching technique. The structural and optical characteristics were investigated as a function of Nd2O3concentration. From the optical absorption spectra J-O intensity parameters (Ωλ, λ = 2,4 and 6) were evaluated; the parameters are found to be in the order: Ω2> Ω6> Ω4. The emission spectra recorded at λexc = 808 nm) exhibited three intense bands at 875 nm, 1053 nm and 1328 nm attributed to4F3/2 → 4I9/2,11/2,13/2 transitions, respectively. The intensity of 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 (1.053 μm) emission band is found to be the highest among the three bands. With increasing the concentration of Nd2O3upto 0.8 mol%, intensity of all emission bands exhibited an increasing trend. Beyond 0.8 mol%, a decrease in the intensity of PL output is observed; this is attributed concentration quenching losses and increased phonon losses. From emission spectra, various radiative parameters such as transition probability, AR, branching ratio β, and radiative life time,τR, were evaluated for all glass samples. The analysis of the results indicated glasses mixed with 0.8 mol% of Nd3+exhibited highest photoluminescence efficiency of 1.053 μm emission. The reasons for such high efficiency were further identified using structural analysis of the host glass using IR spectral studies.