Coordination and ion-ion interactions of chromium centers in alkaline earth zinc borate glasses probed by electron paramagnetic resonance and optical spectroscopy

• Published in: Physica scripta 2013-05, Vol.87 (5), p.55602-9
• Main Authors: Sumalatha, B, Omkaram, I, Rajavardana Rao, T, Raju, Ch Linga
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asymptotic properties; Band spectra; Chromium; Earth; Electron paramagnetic resonance; Glass; Mathematical analysis; Zinc borate
• ISSN: 0031-8949; 1402-4896
• DOI: 10.1088/0031-8949/87/05/055602

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), optical absorption and FT-IR studies have been carried out on chromium ions incorporated in alkaline earth zinc borate glasses. The EPR spectra exhibit two resonance signals with effective g values at g 1.99 and 1.97. The resonance signal at g 1.99 is attributed to the contribution from both the exchange coupled Cr3+-Cr3+ ion pairs and the isolated Cr3+ ions and the resonance signal at g 1.97 is due to Cr5+ ions. The paramagnetic susceptibility (χ) was calculated from the EPR data at various (123-303 K) temperatures and the Curie temperature (θp) was calculated from the 1 χ-T graph. The optical absorption spectra exhibit three bands at ∼360 nm, ∼440 nm and a broad band at ∼615 nm characteristic of Cr3+ ions in an octahedral symmetry. From the observed band positions, the crystal-field splitting parameter Dq and the Racah parameters (B and C) have been evaluated. From the ultraviolet edges, the optical band gap energies (Eopt) and Urbach energy (ΔE) are calculated. The theoretical optical basicity (Λth) of these glasses has also been evaluated. Chromium ions doped alkaline earth zinc borate glasses show BO3 and BO4 structural units in the FT-IR studies.