Novel oxychloroborate glasses containing neodymium ions: Synthesis, structure and luminescent properties

Novel oxychloroborate glasses containing Nd3+ ions in the B2O3-PbCl2-PbO-Al2O3-WO3 system were investigated. The results on synthesis, short-range order structure and luminescent properties are reported. The influence of the PbCl2 content on the glass properties was analyzed. The near-infrared luminescence lines at 0.91, 1.06 and 1.33 μm were registered in oxychloride lead borate glasses, which correspond to the transitions from the 4F3/2 state to the 4I9/2, 4I11/2 and 4I13/2 low-lying states of the Nd3+ ions. Luminescence decays from the 4F3/2 state were analyzed, in details. The effect of OH− content on the 4F3/2 lifetime of Nd3+ is much stronger than decreasing of phonon energy of the host. Consequently, the measured 4F3/2 lifetime of Nd3+ slightly decreases with the increasing of PbCl2 concentration.