Strong emission at 1000 nm from Pr3+/Yb3+-codoped multicomponent tellurite glass

We have investigated the spectroscopic properties of Pr3+-doped and Pr3+/Yb3+-codoped tellurite glass with the molar composition 78TeO2–10Nb2O5–5PbO–1PbF2–5Li2O–1La2O3. Analysis of the absorption data has allowed us to calculate the radiative lifetimes of 3P0 excited state of Pr3+ ions and 2F5/2 excited state of Yb3+ ions as being equal to 9.43 and 440 µs, respectively. These values appear to be much higher than those obtained from the lifetime measurements indicating the presence of various energy transfer mechanisms. This conclusion is supported by analysis of the emission spectra obtained for doped glasses under the 445 nm excitation; the visible spectra consist of only Pr3+ transitions, while the near infrared spectrum of Pr3+/Yb3+-codoped glass demonstrates a strong emission from the 2F5/2 excited state of Yb3+ ion around 1000 nm. This emission is a result of the Pr3+–Yb3+ down-conversion energy transfer and its efficiency for our Pr3+/Yb3+-codoped glass is estimated as 29%. For potential applications, it is important to increase this efficiency and further studies are desirable, in particular, an optimal choice of Pr3+ and Yb3+ concentrations to minimize non-radiative energy transfers among the ions through cross-relaxation and energy migration processes.

Ta2O5 Nanocrystals Strengthened Mechanical, Magnetic, and Radiation Shielding Properties of Heavy Metal Oxide Glass

In this study, for the first time, diamagnetic 5d0 Ta5+ ions and Ta2O5 nanocrystals were utilized to enhance the structural, mechanical, magnetic, and radiation shielding of heavy metal oxide glasses. Transparent Ta2O5 nanocrystal-doped heavy metal oxide glasses were obtained, and the embedded Ta2O5 nanocrystals had sizes ranging from 20 to 30 nm. The structural analysis of the Ta2O5 nanocrystal displays the transformation from hexagonal to orthorhombic Ta2O5. Structures of doped glasses were studied through X-ray diffraction and infrared and Raman spectra, which reveal that Ta2O5 exists in highly doped glass as TaO6 octahedral units, acting as a network modifier. Ta5+ ions strengthened the network connectivity of 1–5% Ta2O5-doped glasses, but Ta5+ acted as a network modifier in a 10% doped sample and changed the frame coordination units of the glass. All Ta2O5-doped glasses exhibited improved Vicker’s hardness, magnetization (9.53 × 10−6 emu/mol), and radiation shielding behaviors (RPE% = 96–98.8%, MAC = 32.012 cm2/g, MFP = 5.02 cm, HVL = 0.0035–3.322 cm, and Zeff = 30.5) due to the increase in density and polarizability of the Ta2O5 nanocrystals.