Spectroscopic properties and ab initio calculations on the structure of erbium–zinc-borate glasses and glass ceramics

Glasses in the (Er2O3)x·(B2O3)(60−x)·(ZnO)40 system (0≤x≤15mol%) have been prepared by the melt quenching technique. X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, UV-VIS spectroscopy and ab initio calculations studies have been employed to study the role of Er2O3 content on the structure of the investigated glass system.