Photoluminescence, radiative shielding properties of Sm3+ ions doped fluoroborosilicate glasses for visible (reddish-orange) display and radiation shielding applications

Abstract The various concentrations of trivalent samarium ions activated SiO2 +B2O3 + Na2CO3 + NaF + CaF2 (SBNC) glasses have been prepared with the conventional melt quenching method. Various physical parameters like density, refractive index, thickness, etc were evaluated/calculated for prepared glasses. The synthesized glasses were subject to analysis through FTIR, absorption, photoluminescence excitation, emission and fluorescence decay measurements. Judd-Oflet parameters (Ω2, Ω4 and Ω6) were estimated for all investigated SBNCSm glasses and calculated various radiative parameters. The fluorescence emission spectra consist of four sharp peaks centered at 564 nm (4G5/2 →6H5/2), 600 nm (4G5/2 → 6H7/2), 660 nm (4G5/2 →6H9/2), and 710 nm (4G5/2 →6H11/2). The glass doped with 0.5 mol % Sm3+ ions (SBNCSm05) has the highest emission intensity for 4G5/2 →6H7/2 transition (600 nm (orange)). The characteristic fluorescence emission parameters were calculated. The SBNCSm05 glass attains the higher values of stimulated emission cross-section ( σ emi  = 11.23 × 10-20 cm2), the gain bandwidth ( σ emi x Δλeff = 16.22 × 10-25 cm3) and optical gain parameter ( σ emi x τR = 19.85 × 10-25 cm2s). The lifetime of excited of Sm3+ ions (4G5/2) was estimated using the least square fitting method. The CIE chromaticity coordinate values of investigated glasses confirmed the emitted radiation fall in the visible reddish-orange region of the EM spectrum. Moreover, the shielding capacity of SBNCSm glasses against gamma photons and fast neutrons were extensively evaluated using Py-MLBUF online software. The results clearly shows that the different concentrations of Sm3+ ions into SBNC glasses improved both shielding and optical properties. The obtained values suggested that the SBNCSm05 and SBNCSm20 glasses can be used as a potential candidate in photonic device applications and radiation shielding applications.