The Physical and Optical Studies of Erbium Doped Borosilicate Glass

A glass series of erbium doped zinc borosilicate glass system was prepared by using the melt-quenching method. The absorption spectra revealed several bands at visible range which correspond to the following transitions (from the ground state); ⁴F_5/2 + ⁴F_7/2 + ²H_11/2 + ⁴S_3/2 + ⁴F_9/2 + ⁴I_9/2. The density and molar volume obtained increased and decreased respectively as the concentration of erbium oxide varied from 0 mol % to 1.0 mol %. Meanwhile, oxygen packing density (OPD) increased as the concentration of erbium oxide increased up to 3.0 mol % due to the build-up of bridging oxygen. The indirect band gap energy was achieved from 2.56 eV to 2.80 eV and the Urbach energy values lies between 0.15 eV and 0.61 eV. (paper)