The effect of Nd2O3 content on the properties and structure of Nd3+ doped TeO2–MgO–Na2O- glass

Understanding the influence of rare-earth ions (REIs) in tellurite glass is crucial for the development of efficient solid state laser. In this work, tellurite glasses containing Nd2O3 (0–2.0 mol%) were prepared via melt-quenching method to unveil the effect of different Nd3+composition in the environment of tellurite glass. The prepared glasses were characterized using several techniques to determine their physical, thermal, structural, optical properties and the lasing performance. XRD analysis confirmed the amorphous nature of the proposed glasses. Raman analysis shows that the glass with high content of Nd3+ experienced changes in network structure. Seven well-defined absorption bands from UV–Vis absorption spectra shows the transition from the ground state (4I3/2) to several excited states of Nd3+. The negative bonding parameter proved the ionic character possessed by Nd3+and ligands. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (Ω2, Ω4, Ω6) and radiative properties were determined by Judd-Ofelt theory. The photoluminescence spectra (PL) revealed the lasing potency of the prepared glass in the infrared region at 0.87 μm, 1.06 μm, and 1.30 μm due to efficient emissions from 4F3/2 → 4I9/2, 4F3/2 → 4I11/2, and 4F3/2 → 4I13/2 transition respectively. The glass containing 0.5 mol% of Nd2O3 exhibited high stimulated emission cross-section (3.63 × 10−20 cm2), high quantum efficiency (57.47%), longer decay lifetime (177.61 μs), high optical gain (11.20 × 10−24 cm2) and low saturation intensity Is (2.91 × 108 W/m2) for 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 transition, revealing its suitability for 1.06 μm solid-state laser.