Upconversion Luminescence and Optical Studies of Nd3+: Bi2O3–B2O3–P2O5 Glasses

The bismuth borophosphate glass matrix doped with Nd2O3have been prepared by conventional melt quenching method with the molar compositions of 25Bi2O3: 5B2O3: (70-x)P2O5: xNd2O3(where x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 mol%). The density, molar volume, optical absorption and upconversion luminescnece spectra were studied. It can be seen that the density is not depend on Nd2O3concentration. The molar volume is tending to be decreased with increasing of Nd2O3due to the decrease in the bond length or interatomic spacing between the atoms. Ten absorption bands at 427, 471, 510, 525, 580 , 622, 682, 743, 802 and 873 nm are observed, which could be ascribed to Nd3+transitions from the4I9/2ground state to2P1/2,2G9/2,4G9/2,4G7/2,4G5/2+2G7/2,2H11/2,4F9/2,4F7/2+4S3/2,4F5/2+4H9/2and4F3/2levels. The upconversion luminescence band at 394 nm was observed and the highest emission intensity was obtained at 0.8 mol% of Nd2O3.