Structural, thermal and optical studies of Eu3+ ion doped Ge22As20Se58 glass

Abstract

The effect of Eu ^3+ doping on improving the amorphous nature of commercial chalcogenide glass/ChG (Ge _22 As _20 Se _58 ), which is typically used as a molded lens for mid-infrared imaging, has been investigated. The observed absence of bright spots in Transmission Electron Microscope-Selected area (electron) diffraction (TEM-SAED) pattern confirmed the doping-induced amorphous nature of Eu-Ge _22 As _20 Se _58 glass. The thermal studies over glass transition temperature (Tg) using DSC technique also revealed that Eu doping has increased the amorphous nature along with the thermal stability of Ge _22 As _20 Se _58 glass. The optical analysis using UV–vis absorption spectroscopy showed that the activity of Eu-doped ChG has been extended across the UV-visible region. Tauc plot derived band gap energy of Eu-doped and undoped ChG is found to be 2.2 and 2.6 eV, respectively.

Keywords

• chalcogenide glass
• infrared imaging
• luminescent
• amorphization
• absorbance