Structural and optical investigations on Eu 3+ doped fluorophosphate glass and nano glass-ceramics

Eu3+ doped transparent glass and glass-ceramic were prepared by melt quenching method of P2O5-CaF2-Eu2O3 composition. The glass-ceramic samples were obtained by heat treatment of initial glass at 640 °C for 4 h. The structure properties of samples were characterized by XRD, DTA, SEM and EDS and their optical and spectroscopic studies were done using optical absorption, reflectance, FTIR, and emission spectra. X-ray diffraction patterns evidenced the formation of major phase of Ca(PO3)2 nano crystals along with minor phases of Al2(SiF6)3, Eu and Eu5(PO4)3F. The Tauc plots shows that the heat treatment increases allowed direct band gap and Urbach energy. Up frequency conversion properties of glassy and glass-ceramic samples have been investigated. Upconversion phenomena were observed in Eu3+ doped glass-ceramics samples.