Physical study of Sm3+ doped borochromate glass system

Graphical abstract: Highlights: → The borate glass was used as a host for samarium and chromium oxides. → X-ray diffraction reveals the absence of any diffraction peaks. → The density of the samples and the molar volume exhibit opposite behavior. → IR spectra indicate that both Sm and Cr have minor effect on the boron structural units. → No ESR signals were observed for Cr-free sample. - Abstract: Sm3+ doped borochromate glasses of composition [xSm2O3-74.5B2O3-25Li2O-(0.5 - x)Cr2O3] with x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mol% have been prepared by conventional quenching melting method. The XRD profile confirm the amorphous nature of the glass samples. The density measurements were made using Archimedes' principle of the prepared samples. Molar volume VM, rare-earth ion concentration N and ionic radius rp as well as field strength F have been estimated from the density measurements. The average optical basicity, Λth, electronegativity χ2av and electronic polarizability α2- were calculated for the prepared glass samples. Influence of rare earth ions on structural behavior in borochromate glasses have been investigated using infrared spectroscopy (IR). The structural changes have been analyzed with increasing rare earth concentration. Partial BO3 ↔ BO4 conversion as a function of rare earth concentration was observed. From the relative peak areas of BO3 and BO4 in structural groups the ratio N4 has been calculated. ESR spectra were recorded at room temperature. The obtain ESR signals were used to estimate the paramagnetic susceptibility (χ).