Reddish-orange emissions from Sm³⁺ doped zinc alumino borosilicate glasses: A correlative study on structural, thermal, and optical properties

The present study investigates the structural, thermal, and optical properties of Sm³⁺-doped Zinc Alumino Borosilicate (ZABS) glasses obtained through the melt-quenching method. The prepared glasses clearly exhibit an amorphous nature confirmed by XRD analysis. Through FTIR studies, the vibrations of metal cations, B₂O₃, SiO₂, Al₂O₃ network groups and O–H groups were analysed. This study helps to determine the bridging and non-bridging oxygen quantity in glass structures including Sm₂O₃. Through differential thermal studies, the thermal stability factor and its related calculations were carried out. Glasses showed a thermal stability (ΔT) value > 100 °C. Absorption spectra of the glasses showed thirteen peaks emerged from the lower ground state ⁶H_5/2. The bonding parameter calculation showed that the glasses exhibit ionic bonding. The Judd-Ofelt (J-O) parameters followed the same trend Ω₄ >Ω₂> Ω₆ for the synthesized glasses. The bandgap values of the glasses decrease with higher content of NBOs in the glass network, and the Urbach energy (E_U) increases. The luminescence spectra of the glasses show four emission peaks such that the intense emission is seen at transition ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_7/2 at 599 nm. The radiative parameters calculation showed that Sm³⁺- 0.5 mol% glass has a higher emission cross section (σ_se) and transition probability (A_R). Decay curves were recorded for all the glasses that show single exponential behavior with extended lifetimes (ms). Glasses produce reddish-orange emissions under 402 nm excitation and the values of correlated color temperature (CCT) lie in the range of 1500–1600 K. Overall, the prepared Sm³⁺-doped ZABS glasses act as a good candidate for luminescent display applications and laser materials.