Spectroscopic characterization of manganese-doped alkaline earth lead zinc phosphate glasses

Alkaline earth lead zinc phosphate glasses doped with Mn(II) are characterized by spectroscopic techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–visible, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman. Optical absorption spectrum exhibits four bands which are characteristic of Mn(II) in distorted octahedral site symmetry. The crystal field parameter Dq and Racah interelectronic-repulsion parameters B and C have been evaluated. All investigated samples exhibit EPR signals which are characteristic to the Mn2+ ions. The shapes of spectra are also changed with varying alkaline earth ions content. FTIR spectra show specific vibrations of phosphate units. The characteristic Raman bands of these glasses due to stretching and bending vibrations were identified and analysed by varying alkaline earth content. The intensity and frequency variations for the characteristic phosphate group vibrations have been correlated with the changes of the structural units present in these glasses. Depolymerization of the phosphate chains in all the glasses is observed with replacement of alkaline earth content by spectroscopic studies. This leads to a strong decrease of the average chain length and a small decrease of the average P–O–P bridging angle with replacement of alkaline earth content.