Preparation and Characterization of Eu3+-Doped Transparent Oxyfluoride Glasses

Abstract

A process has been proposed for the preparation of oxyfluoride glasses based on the SiO₂–B₂O₃–Bi₂O₃–ZnO–CaF₂ system at various ratios of batch components, and transparent glasses have been obtained at a temperature below 1000°C. According to X-ray diffraction data, all of the glasses are X-ray amorphous. The surface morphology of the glasses has been examined and their glass transition temperatures have been determined. Their local structure has been studied by IR spectroscopy and it has been shown that, independent of composition, the glasses contain complex polyborate anions formed by [BO₃] and [BO₄] groups. Bismuth is incorporated into the glass network to form Bi–O–Si bonds and [BiO₆] network-formers.