Structural, optical and magnetic properties of Fe3O4 sputtered TeO2-PbO-B2O3 and PbO-Bi2O3-B2O3 glasses for sensing applications

Sputtered samples (Fe3O4 target) were compared with the one obtained by melt-quenching Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The influence of sputtered Fe3O4 layer thickness on thermal and magneto-optical performance was investigated. The results prove that the magnetic property of both glasses, and especially the TeO2-PbO-B2O3 one, is enhanced after the incorporation of 1-5 μm-thick-Fe3O4 layer deposited by sputtering. Compared with the uncoated glasses, no significant degradation in FT-IR transmittance, UV-VIS absorption and thermal stability were discovered. The TeO2-PbO-B2O3-Fe3O4 system exhibits the best thermal and magneto-optical performances for magneto optical applications, within the two glass families.