SnO2 nanoparticles concentration dependent structural and luminescence characteristics of Er+3 doped zinc-lead-phosphate glass

Abstract We report the modifications in the structural and luminescence properties of erbium (Er+ 3) doped Zinc-Lead-Phosphate (ZLP) glasses containing SnO2 nanoparticles (SNPs). Glasses are prepared via melt quenching technique and characterized using high resolution scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), differential thermal analyzer (DTA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV–Visible absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The DTA results showed an enhancement in the thermal stability with the incorporation of SNPs. The FESEM micrograph revealed the occurrence of uniformly distributed SNPs with average diameter around 21 nm. FTIR spectra exhibited various bonding vibrations, where the IR transmission band intensities are increased accompanied by a shift with the increase of SNPs contents. The UV–Vis spectra displayed six significant absorption peaks centered around 1536, 979, 799, 650, 523, and 485 nm. Room temperature PL spectra showed three emission peaks centered at 502, 545 and 606 nm. The emission intensities are enhanced with increasing SNPs contents. Present glass composition may be useful for the development of solid state lasers and other photonic devices.