Modification in Structural Properties of Erbium-doped Zinc – Sodium Tellurite Glass: Effect of Bimetallic Cu/Ti Nanoparticles

The effect of bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) on the structural and optical properties of tellurite glass doped with Cu/Ti NPs are reported. A series of glass with composition of (70–x–y) TeO2–20ZnO–9Na₂O–1Er₂O₃–(x)CuO–(y)TiO2 (where x = 0.0, 0.1 and 0.04 mol%, y = 0.0, 0.1 and 0.04 mol%) are synthesized by using melt-quenching method. The structure and optical properties of tellurite glass containing Cu/Ti NPs are identified by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) technique and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). XRD spectra show the nature of glass and the grain size. The SEM images shows the surface morphology and EDX spectra show the traces of C, O, Te, Na, Zn, Au, Er, Ti and Cu elements. FTIR spectra show the chemical bonding of constituent atom in glass matrix primarily the Zn²+ vibration, Cu (II)–O bonding, Te–O bending in term of TeO₃ and TeO₄ units, Cu–H stretching and O–H vibration of water group. (paper)