Impact of Nd3+ ions on physical and optical properties of Lithium Magnesium Borate glass

• The optical properties of new glasses were determined for the first time.
• The up-conversion emission enhancement in Nd3+ doped borate glass was reported.
• Emission displaying an enhancement by a factor of two for 0.5 mol% of Nd3+.
• The emission enhancement is attributed to the energy transfer between Mg2+ and Nd3+.

Enhancing the up-conversion efficiency of borate glass via optimized doping of rare earth ions is an ever-ending quest in lasing glass. Neodymium (Nd3+) doped Lithium Magnesium Borate (LMB) glasses are prepared using the melt-quenching method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR), UV–Vis–NIR absorption and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopic characterizations are made to examine the influence of Nd3+ concentration on physical properties and optical properties. Nd3+ contents dependent density, molar volume, refractive index, ion concentration, Polaron radius, inter nuclear distance, field strength, energy band gap and oscillator strength are calculated. XRD patterns confirm the amorphous nature of all glasses and the FTIR spectra reveal the presence of BO3 and BO4 functional groups. UV–Vis–IR spectra exhibit ten prominent bands centered at 871, 799, 741, 677, 625, 580, 522, 468, 426, 349 nm corresponding to the transitions from the ground state to 4F3/2, (4F5/2 + 2H9/2), (4F7/2 + 4S3/2), 4F9/2, 2H11/2, (4G5/2 + 2G7/2), (2K13/2 + 4G7/2 + 4G9/2), (2G9/2 + 2D3/2 + 2P3/2), (2P1/2 + 2D5/2), (4D3/2 + 4D5/2) excited states, respectively. A hyper-sensitive transition related to (4G5/2 + 2G7/2) level is evidenced at 580 nm. The room temperature up-conversion emission spectra at 800 nm excitation displays three peaks centered at 660, 610 and 540 nm. Glass with 0.5 mol% of Nd3+ showing an emission enhancement by a factor to two is attributed to the energy transfer between Mg2+ and Nd3+ ions. Our results suggest that these glasses can be nominated for solid state lasers and other photonic devices.