Photolumincence study of Sm³⁺ containing sodium borosilicate glasses and glass-ceramics

Glasses doped with Sm₂O₃ were prepared by conventional melt-quench technique. The glasses were characterized by XRD, density and glass transition temperature. These glasses were converted into glass-ceramic by two stage heat treatment schedule. Photoluminescence measurement was carried out for glasses and glass-ceramics. The glass samples when excited with 402 nm as an excitation wavelength, the luminescence spectra gives three bands at 562 nm, 601 nm and 647 nm due to ⁴G_5/2  →  ⁶H_5/2, ⁴G_5/2  →  ⁶H_7/2 and ⁴G_5/2  →  ⁶H_9/2 transitions, respectively. The current study indicates that these sodium borosilicate glasses show apparent change in emission intensity when they are converted into glass ceramics. The overall study suggests that these glasses can be used for LED application. (paper)