Spectroscopical splitting of Cu ion energy levels in magnesium lead fluoro silicate glasses

Homogeneous 40.0 MgO–(10–x) PbF2–50.0 SiO2: x CuO glasses were prepared using melt-quenching technique under controlled conditions. Spectroscopic studies (UV–vis absorption, ESR, FT-IR) are carried out for these glasses. One broad characteristic visible absorption band is observed around 700–850 nm in these glasses, the optical band gap decreases as the content of the CuO increases in the glass network up to 0.7 mol % then reversal trend is observed. ESR spectra of all these glasses show resonance peaks characteristic of Cu2+ ions and hyperfine splitting is resolved with increasing the CuO content in the glass network. From the observed ESR spectra, the spin-Hamiltonian parameters have been evaluated and indicate that Cu2+ ions have octahedral coordination with a strong tetragonal distortion in these glasses. By correlating ESR and optical absorption data, the molecular orbital coefficients have been evaluated. FT-IR spectra give important information about the nature of bonds in the glass matrix. The density of the glasses is also measured and is found to decrease with the increase CuO contents in the glass matrix. The physical parameters along with spectroscopic parameters are measured.