Synthesis and characterization of Sm³⁺ doped BaO-ZnO-LiF-B₂O₃ glass system for reddish-orange light generation with high color purity

Sm³⁺ containing BaO-ZnO-LiF-B₂O₃ glass system by a melt-quenching procedure was synthesized and the structural, thermal, dielectric, optical, and radiative properties were studied. The creation of Non-Bridging Oxygens (NBOs) with Sm³⁺ doping was manifested from Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy by the decrement of the relative area of component peaks associated with the [BO₄] units and simultaneous increment of the relative area linked with the [BO₃] units. The glass transition temperature was identified by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The dielectric properties were analyzed with varying frequency and temperature through dielectric constant, loss tangent, conductivity, and capacitance. The optical transition properties were studied in the framework of Judd-Ofelt (JO) theory. JO parameters were confirmed, and furthermore, the optical transition rates and fluorescence branching ratios were also derived. With 401 nm excitation, the emission spectra of the glass system exhibited emissions of the Sm³⁺ ion corresponding to transitions ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_5/2, ⁶H_7/2, ⁶H_9/2, ⁶H_11/2 at 563, 601, 647, and 708 nm, respectively. The higher emission rate, branching ratio, stimulated emission cross-section, gain linewidth, and figure of merit for the transition ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_7/2 calculated by Fuchtbauer-Ladenburg theory indicated potential of the titled glass system for reddish-orange solid-state lasers. The investigated glass system also exhibited high quantum efficiency and color purity (99%) for emission device application.