The role of CuO as limiting and luminescent probe for orange red emission of Sm3+ ions in strontium bismuth borosilicate glasses

Abstract The properties of glass materials with CuO are suitable for both optical and photovoltaic applications. The role of CuO hinges on the structural properties of glass network. The structural and luminescence properties of melt quenched strontium bismuth borosilicate glasses containing Sm2O3 with varying amounts of CuO (referred as N: SmCu) were studied. Two valence states of Cu ions are possible due to more amount of silica in glass. The amorphous nature of glass was confirmed by XRD and thermal parameters were explained through DTA curves. FTIR spectrum indicated the variation of asymmetric vibrations of SiO4 units with change in SrO and CuO concentration which influence the valence state of Cu2+. The absorption spectra have shown peaks due to 3 d10→3 d9 4s1 transition of Cu+ ions, 6H5/2 → 6P3/2 transition of Sm3+ and broad 2B1g→2B2g transitions of Cu2+ ions. The NIR region has peaks of Sm3+ ions. The Photo Luminescence (PL) spectra of N: SmCu glasses exhibited cyan bluish emission at 485 nm followed by intense emission peaks of Sm3+ at 312 nm excitation. The emission of N: SmCu10 and N: SmCu12 glasses are quenched due to Cu2+ ions. Moreover, maximum range of emission is exhibited by ‘N: SmCu8’ glass. The shortening of life time decay observed in ‘N: SmCu’ glasses was inferred to the process of energy transfer. The profiles of life time decay curves are fitted with the help of bi-exponential function. The CIE and CCT values of all glasses are calculated. The white light emission is quite possible in N: SmCu10 glass and the remaining glasses covered Orange - red regions with CCT values ranging from 1892 K–2351 K.