Optical and thermal analysis of ZnO–CdO–TeO2 glasses doped with Nd3+

It is presented the Nd doping of the glassy ZnO–CdO–TeO2 ternary system. The Nd-doped oxide glasses were prepared by conventional melt-quenching method using three different compositions from this system. X-rays diffraction (XRD) diagrams in these materials reveal that they are basically vitreous structure. Infrared (IR) spectra of the glasses showed the characteristic bands at 665, 670, and 675 cm−1, which correspond to the trigonal structure of TeO3. The presence of Nd3+ was detected in the visible and infrared region of the spectra by optical absorption (OA) measurements of the band gap and by photoluminescence (PL) experiments. Glasses showed light emission due to the transition: 4F3/2 → 4I9/2. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) of these glasses have shown that Tg temperatures are in the 465–485 °C and Tc in the 800–1000 °C ranges.

Research highlights
► ZnO-CdO-TeO2 glasses doped with Neodymium first time thermal and optical properties.
► DTA shows glass transition are in the 465–485 °C and crystallization in the 800–1000 °C ranges.
► Optical absorption and photoluminescence allow detect Neodymium in visible and infrared regions.
► Light emission due to the 4F3/2 → 4I9/2 transition was detected.