PHYSICAL AND OPTICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MANGANESE IONS IN SODIUM - ZINC - PHOSPHATE GLASS MATRIX

Abstract: In order to investigate the significant modifications induced by incorporation of manganese ions in sodium-zinc-phosphate glass matrix, a glass system of chemical formula 40P2O5-40ZnO-(20-x)Na2O-xMnO (where, x varied from 1 to 6 mol%) was prepared using the traditional melt quenching technique. The values of the glass density were increased and those of the molar volume were decreased by increasing the content of MnO. In addition, the concentration of manganese ions and the related field strength were increased while the corresponding inter-ionic spacing and polaron radius were decreased. The spectroscopic studies of all samples were carried out over (190-2500 nm) spectral range. The optical transmission of the prepared glass in the visible-near IR spectral range is enhanced by increasing the MnO content where it reaches a maximum value of about 86% at concentration 3% of MnO. This excellent transmission in such spectral range suggested the use of the present glass in many technological applications such as optical filters, IR domes, modulators, laser windows and lenses especially for Nd:YAG lasers. The optical band gap energy and the Urbach energy were determined. The refractive index was found to be decreased by increasing the MnO concentration from 1% to 3% then increased by increasing the MnO concentration from 3% to 6%. Other related physical parameters such as dielectric constant, electric susceptibility, molar polarizibility and metallization criterion were evaluated. The results predicted the working of the present glass in the range of nonlinear optical materials.

Keywords: Phosphate Glass - Manganese Ions - Optical Band Gap - Refractive Index - Metallization Criterion