Composition dependent structural and optical properties of PbF2–TeO2–B2O3–Eu2O3 glasses

•XPS study confirmed the chemical analysis of the samples.•FTIR, density, molar volume and hardness values proved the compact [bridging oxygens] network in the samples.•Dielectric study showed good thermal stability of the samples till 550 K.•Decrease in optical band gap energy values indicated the semiconducting behavior of the glasses.

Boric oxide based quaternary glasses in the system PbF2–TeO2–B2O3–Eu2O3 have been prepared by melt quenching technique. Density, molar volume, FTIR, UV–Vis techniques were used to probe the structural modifications with incorporation of europium ions in the glass network. An increase in glass density & decrease in molar volume (Vm) values proved the structural changes occurring in coordination of boron atom [conversion of BO3 units to BO4]. This resulted in the increase of the compaction of the prepared glasses with increase in Eu2O3 contents. The amorphous natures of the samples were ascertained by XRD and metallization criterion (M) studies. XPS study showed the values of core-level binding energy [O1s, Eu3d, Eu4d, Te3d, Te4d, Pd4f, Pb5d, O1s, and F1s] of (PbF2–TeO2–B2O3–Eu2O3) the glass matrix. The frequency and temperature dependence of dielectric properties of present glasses were investigated in the frequency range of 1 Hz–10 MHz and temperature range of 313–773 K. The study of dielectric measurements proved good insulating and thermal stability of the prepared glasses. At room temperature, dielectric loss [tan δ] values were negligibly small for prepared glasses and increased with increase in temperature. FTIR spectroscopy results were in good agreement with optical band energy gap, density, molar volume and hardness values revealing network modifications caused by europium ions in the glass structure.

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