Dy³⁺ doped SiO₂–B₂O₃–Al₂O₃–NaF–ZnF₂ glasses: An exploration of optical and gamma radiation shielding features

A series of Dy³⁺ doped zinc-aluminoborosilicate glasses with chemical composition 30SiO₂-(30-x) B₂O₃–10Al₂O₃–15NaF–15ZnF₂-xDy₂O₃ (x = 0, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0 and 1.5 mol %) were prepared by conventional melt-quenching method. Structural and optical properties of the glasses were analyzed through XRD, FTIR, UV–Visible–NIR and luminescence studies. Gamma radiation shielding parameters were obtained using PSD software. Nephelauxetic ratio (β) and bonding parameters (δ) calculated using absorption spectrum shows the decreasing ionic nature of the Dy ions. Judd-Oflet parameters (Ω₂, Ω₄ and Ω₆) obtained shows the covalency and asymmetric nature of dysprosium ions. The luminescence properties shows that Dy³⁺ doped glasses have two strong intense emission at blue (482 nm) and yellow (575 nm) region. Branching ratio and stimulated emission cross section calculated suggests the glasses suitability to act as lasing material. CIE colour coordinates and its colour correlated temperature (CCT) for the glasses were estimated and found that these prepared glasses lie in the warm white light region.