Structure and properties of rare earth-doped lead borate glasses

Influence of rare earth oxide (Nd2O3, Er2O3) addition on structure and glass properties has been investigated in PbO-B2O3-Al2O3-WO3 system. With an increasing of rare earth concentration, intensity of OH band drastically decreases and IR transparency is slightly shifted to the longer wavelengths. The ErBO3 crystalline phase has been identified basing on X-ray diffraction analysis. In opposite to the neodymium oxide, the erbium oxide plays the role as glass-modifier and influences on BO3 ↔ BO4 conversion, what was stated by infrared spectroscopy.