A comprehensive study of electrical and optical properties of phosphate oxide-based glasses doped with Er2O3

In this study, the radiative parameters were acquired from the UV absorption spectra and the luminescence spectra of Er3+ ions doped Er2O3–Al2O3–Na2O–P2O5 glasses. The intensity of each absorption spectrum was utilized to deduce the radiative parameters and the parameters (Ω2, Ω4 and Ω6) of Judd–Ofelt theory. The FTIR and the elastic moduli of the quaternary glasses are also investigated. Analysis of the FTIR suggested that the presence of Er3+ ions created bridging oxygens and polymerized the local structure around atoms. This procedure manifested itself from decreasing the bond length of O–P and increasing the O/P ratio. The polymerization of the phosphate structure increased the ultrasonic velocity and the rigidity of the network. The electrical parameters of the phosphate glasses, such as the frequency and temperature dependence AC conductivity, dielectric loss and dielectric modulus were carried out. The Er3+ ions affected the carrier mobility by decreasing the electrical conductivity and increasing the activation energy. In addition, the frequency and temperature dependence of the dielectric modulus exhibited a Debye-type relaxation behavior.