Dosimetric properties of UV irradiated calcium co-doped borate glass-ceramic

The thermoluminescence (TL) response of Dy and Li doped 20CaB(4)O(7)-80CaB(2)O(4) (Wt%) glass-ceramic irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation was studied. In order to act as TL activator ions, the Dy and Li ions were included in the matrix during the melting process to increase its TL efficiency. A single crystalline CaB2O4 phase was present in the glass-ceramic as determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The glass-ceramic 20CaB(4)O(7)-80CaB(2)O(4):Dy,Li wt% (named 20CBO7:Dy,Li) is a newly prepared TL material. Its thermoluminescent dosimetric characteristics have shown a linear response under UV radiation exposure and a good TL signal reproducibility, thus proving to be a promising material for using as an ultraviolet radiation dosimeter. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Undoped and calcium doped borate glass system for thermoluminescent dosimeter

Borate glasses present an absorption coefficient very close to that of human tissue. This fact makes some borates ideal materials to develop medical and environmental dosimeters. Glass compositions with calcium tetraborate (CaB4O7) and calcium metaborate (CaB2O4), such as the xCaB(4)O(7) - (100-x)CaB2O4 System (0 <= x <= 100 wt%) were obtained by the traditional melting/quenching method. A phenomenon widely known as the 'boron anomaly' was observed in our thermal analysis measurements, as indicated by the increase of T, and the appearance of a maximum value in the composition with 40 wt% of CaB2O4. The Dy doped and Li co-doped 80CaB(4)O(7)-20CaB(2)O(4) (Wt%) glass samples were studied by the thermoluminescence technique. The addition of Dy improved the signal sensitivity in about three times with respect to the undoped glass sample. The addition of Li as a co-dopant in this glass caused a shift to a lower temperature of about 20 degrees C in the main glow peak. The structural analysis of the 80CaB(4)O(7)-20CaB(2)O(4) (wt%) undoped and doped samples were studied through infrared absorption. We have noted an increase in the coordination number of the boron atoms from 3 to 4, i.e., the conversion of the BO3 triangular structural units into BO4 tetrahedra. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural study of thin films prepared from tungstate glass matrix by Raman and X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Thin films were prepared using glass precursors obtained in the ternary system NaPO(3)-BaF(2)-WO(3) and the binary system NaPO(3)-WO(3) with high concentrations of WO(3) (above 40% molar). Vitreous samples have been used as a target to prepare thin films. Such films were deposited using the electron beam evaporation method onto soda-lime glass substrates. Several structural characterizations were performed by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES) at the tungsten L(I) and L(III) absorption edges. XANES investigations showed that tungsten atoms are only sixfold coordinated (octahedral WO(6)) and that these films are free of tungstate tetrahedral units (WO(4)). In addition, Raman spectroscopy allowed identifying a break in the linear phosphate chains as the amount of WO(3) increases and the formation of P-O-W bonds in the films network indicating the intermediary behavior of WO(6) octahedra in the film network. Based on XANES data, we suggested a new attribution of several Raman absorption bands which allowed identifying the presence of W-O and W=O terminal bonds and a progressive apparition of W-O-W bridging bonds for the most WO(3) concentrated samples (above 40% molar) attributed to the formation of WO(6) clusters. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thin films prepared from tungstate glass matrix

Vitreous samples containing high concentrations of WO3 (above 40% M) have been used as a target to prepare thin films. Such films were deposited using the electron beam evaporation method onto soda-lime glass substrates. These films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), perfilometry, X-ray energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), M-Lines and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. In this work, experimental parameters were established to obtain stable thin films showing a chemical composition close to the glass precursor composition and with a high concentration of WO3. These amorphous thin films of about 4 mu m in thickness exhibit a deep blue coloration but they can be bleached by thermal treatment near the glass transition temperature. Such bleached films show several guided modes in the visible region and have a high refractive index. Controlled crystallization was realized and thus it was possible to obtain WO3 microcrystals in the amorphous phase. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Crystallization study of the (1-x)Sb2O3-(x)SbPO4 glass system

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Evidence of distinct phase transformations in lithium phosphate glass Li2O-P2O5

The purpose of this work is to study the Li2O-P2O5 glass using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques to understand the crystallization process in this glass matrix. To study the glass by DSC, screened samples with different particle sizes to resolve the crystallization peaks were used. Both crystallization peaks were attributed to Li6P6O18 and LiPO3 phases. This evidence was corroborated by XRD analysis on glasses annealed at different temperatures in order to crystallize these phases.

Induced crystallization on tellurite 20Li(2)O-80TeO(2) glass

Crystallization kinetics and structure of 20Li(2)O-80TeO(2) glasses are studied using x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. XRD results show gamma-TeO2, alpha-TeO2 and Li2Te2O5 phase crystallization in the glass matrix. The infrared band structure of this glass is similar to that observed in glassy TeO2. Activation energies were evaluated from Lorentzian three-peak deconvolution of the DSC crystallization peak recorded at different particle sizes. As the obtained activation values were very close, it was not possible to establish a hierarchy on the crystallization of this glass. In addition, the height of the Lorentzian peaks ( delta T-P1, delta T-P2 and delta T-P3) for each sample was measured and plotted against the nucleation temperature. The presence of two maxima at around 284 and 304 degrees C suggests at least two maximum nucleation temperatures in the studied 20Li(2)O-80TeO(2) glass.

Effects of the particle size and nucleation temperature on tellurite 20Li(2)O-80TeO(2) glass crystallization

20Li(2)O-80TeMO(2) glasses were heat annealed at different temperatures between T-g and T-x and studied by using XRD, FTIR spectroscopy and DSC techniques to understand the crystallization kinetics in this glass matrix. The infrared band structure of this glass is similar to what was observed in glassy TeO2. XRD results reveal the presence of three distinct crystalline gamma-TeO2, alpha-TeO2 and Li2Te2O5 phases during the crystallization process. This is a first report of gamma-TeO2 phase crystallization in this glass matrix. DSC results confinn the crystallization of three distinct structures in the glass. In summary, our results suggest a crystallization hierarchy on this glass matrix since the gamma-TeO2 and alpha-TeO2 phases crystallization occurs before the Li2Te2O5 phase crystallization. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Crystallization kinetics and thermal properties of 20Li(2)O-80TeO(2) glass

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Optical properties and frequency upconversion fluorescence in a Tm3+-doped alkali niobium tellurite glass

Optical spectroscopic properties of Tm3+-doped 60TeO(2)-10GeO(2)-10K(2)O-10Li(2)O-10Nb(2)O(5) glass are reported. The absorption spectra were obtained and radiative parameters were determined using the Judd-Ofelt theory. Characteristics of excited states were studied in two sets of experiments. Excitation at 360 nm originates a relatively narrow band emission at 450 nm attributed to transition D-1(2)-->F-3(4) of the Tm3+ ion with photon energy larger than the band-gap energy of the glass matrix. Excitation at 655 nm originates a frequency upconverted emission at 450 nm (D-1(2)-->F-3(4)) and emission at 790 nm (H-3(4)-->H-3(6)). The radiative lifetimes of levels D-1(2) and H-3(4) were measured and the differences between their experimental values and the theoretical predictions are understood as due to the contribution of energy transfer among Tm3+ ions. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.

Energy transfer between Tm3+ and Er3+ ions in a TeO2-based glass pumped at diode laser wavelength

In this paper we investigate the energy transfer processes in TM3+/Er3+ doped telluride glass pumped at the commercial diode laser pump wavelength similar to 800 nm. Tailoring the rare-earths content in the glass matrix, seven main energy transfer channels within the doping range considered were identified, A 6-fold enhancement of the Er3+ visible frequency upconversion fluorescence at similar to 660 nm is observed due to the inclusion of Tm3+ ions. This is evidence of the relevant contribution of the route Er-1(I-4(11/2)) + Er-2(I-4(13/2)) -> Er-1(I-4(15/2)) + Er-2(F-4(9/2)) to the process. Energy migration among pumped I-4(9/2) level reducing the efficiency of the upconversion emission rate (H-3(11/2), S-4(3/2), and F-4(9/2)) is observed for Er3+ above 1.5 wt%. The rate equations regarding the observed energy transfer routes are determined and a qualitative analysis of the observed processes is reported. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Crystal morphologies on a cordierite glass surface

With suitable thermal treatments, a nearly stoichiometric cordierite glass (2 MgO.2 Al2O3. 5 SiO2) shows a variety of crystal morphologies on the external surfaces: lozenges, regular and elongated hexagons, spherical and square shaped particles. We initially identified these morphologies through optical and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Their structural features were distinguished by x-ray diffraction patterns, infrared and Roman microprobe spectra. We concluded that there are close structural similarities for: lozenges and glass matrix; regular and elongated hexagons; spherical and square particles. The ordering degree increases in the following sequence: glass matrix, lozenges, hexagons, squares and spheres. The lozenge crystals are known as X-phase. The hexagons belong to the μ-cordierite (high quartz solid solution) metastable phase and the squares and spheres to the α-cordierite stable phase.

Tunable plasmon resonance modes on gold nanoparticles in Er 3 +-doped germanium-tellurite glass

Relative to the Er3 +:gold-nanoparticle (Er3 +:Au-NP) axis, the polarization of the gold nanoparticle can be longitudinal (electric dipole parallel to the Er3 +:Au-NP axis) or transverse (electric dipole perpendicular to the Er3 +:Au-NP axis). For longitudinal polarization, the plasmon resonance modes of gold nanoparticles embedded in Er3 +-doped germanium-tellurite glass are activated using laser lines at 808 and 488 nm in resonance with radiative transitions of Er3 + ions. The gold nanoparticles were grown within the host glass by thermal annealing over various lengths of time, achieving diameters lower than 1.6 nm. The resonance wavelengths, determined theoretically and experimentally, are 770 and 800 nm. The absorption wavelength of nanoparticles was determined by using the Frohlich condition. Gold nanoparticles provide tunable emission resulting in a large enhancement for the 2H11/2 → 4I13/2 (emission at 805 nm) and 4S 3/2 → 4I13/2 (emission at 840 nm) electronic transitions of Er3 + ions; this is associated with the quantum yield of the energy transfer process. The excitation pathways, up-conversion and luminescence spectra of Er3 + ions are described through simplified energy level diagrams. We observed that up-conversion is favored by the excited-state absorption due to the presence of the gold nanoparticles coupled with the Er3 + ions within the glass matrix. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Electrical conductivity of Ag-Na ion exchanged soda-lime glass

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Tailoring the refractive index of Ge-S based glass for 3D embedded waveguides operating in the mid-IR region

The photosensitivity of GeSx binary glasses in response to irradiation to femtosecond pulses at 800 nm is investigated. Samples with three different molecular compositions were irradiated under different exposure conditions. The material response to laser exposure was characterized by both refractometry and micro-Raman spectroscopy. It is shown that the relative content of sulfur in the glass matrix influences the photo-induced refractive index modification. At low sulfur content, both positive and negative index changes can be obtained while at high sulfur content, only a positive index change can be reached. These changes were correlated with variations in the Raman response of exposed glass which were interpreted in terms of structural modifications of the glass network. Under optimized exposure conditions, waveguides with positive index changes of up to 7.8x10−3 and a controllable diameter from 14 to 25 μm can be obtained. Direct inscription of low insertion losses (IL = 3.1 – 3.9 dB) waveguides is demonstrated in a sample characterized by a S/Ge ratio of 4. The current results open a pathway towards the use of Ge-S binary glasses for the fabrication of integrated mid-infrared photonic components.