Spectroscopic properties and ab initio calculations on the structure of erbium-zinc-borate glasses and glass ceramics

► Our investigations show that the linkages of [BO4] structural units can polymerized in [B3O9]-9 cyclic trimeric ions. ► The Zn+2 ions generate bonding defects by breaking the B-O-B bonds. ► The UV intensity of the signal increases in infrared region.