Spectroscopic properties of Pr3+ ions embedded in lithium borate glasses

A series of lithium borate glasses with different Pr3+ contents were prepared by the melt quench technique to explore the new material for solid state light applications. We found that the addition of Pr3+ ions in the glass matrix has a profound effect on the properties of the glasses. The presence of Pr3+ ions in the glass matrix created various absorption bands compared to the base glass. These bands were due to the ground state (3H4) of the Pr3+ to the various excited states. Optical energy band gap was calculated by Tauc's method which showed a decreasing trend with an increase in the Pr3+ content. This might be due to structural changes when the glass structure became rigid due to the Pr3+ ions and this was confirmed by the density results. Rigidity of the glass structure was further confirmed by the Fourier transformed infrared results. The excitation spectra showed bands at 3H4→3P2, 3P1 and 3P0 nm. The 3H4→3P2 band was used to study the unresolved 1D2→3H4 and 3P0→3H6 transitions of the Pr3+ ions.