Role of PbO substitution by PbF2 on structural behavior and luminescence of rare earth-doped lead borate glass

Structural behavior and luminescence properties of rare earth ions (Pr3+, Eu3+, Er3+) in oxide and oxyfluoride lead borate glasses have been studied using X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic methods. Substitution of PbO by PbF2 results in decreasing of the number of tetrahedral BO4 units, which was observed for Pr3+ and Eu3+ ions in lead borate glasses using infrared spectroscopy. In contrast to oxyfluoride lead borate glasses, several diffraction lines due to crystalline ErBO3 phase were identified for Er-doped oxide sample. Luminescence spectra for rare earth ions in lead borate based glasses have been analyzed, where PbO was totally substituted by PbF2. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.