The effect of Nd2O3 on the structure and spectroscopic properties of SrO-ZnO-P2O5 glass for NIR emission at 1.058 μm.

• SrO–ZnO–P 2 O 5 containing Nd 2 O 3 were prepared. • The molar volume varied from 41.377 cm3/mol to 41.748 cm3/mol as the Nd increased. • The optical transition decreased from 4.022 eV to 3.572 eV as the Nd 2 O 3 increased. • Emission of 0.9 μm and 1.06 μm NIR lasers are dominated for the current glasses. • 1.5-Nd glass has the high σ and Δ λ eff × σ at 5.7 × 10−20 cm2 and 18.3 × 10−26 cm3. Strontium zinc phosphate glasses containing neodymium ions were prepared. The current glasses show the presence of phosphate groups in the Q2 mode, overlapping with the vibration of Zn–O and Sr–O bonds. The glass density increased from 3.058 g/cm3 (the base glass) to 3.115 g/cm3 (the 1.5-Nd sample) as SrO was replaced with Nd 2 O 3. The optical transition is known as an indirect transition, and the values ranged from 4.022 eV for the base sample to 3.572 eV for the 1.5-Nd sample. The Ravindra model correlates experimental refractive index data with optical band gap. Because of the presence of Nd 2 O 3 in the current glass, distinct spectral absorption peaks are detected in the absorption spectra, which are analyzed using the modified Axe model for the Judd-Ofelt theory. The emission spectra show distinct emission peaks, which are suggested for the possible emission of NIR lasers at 0.9 μm, and 1.058 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]