The influence of erbium additives on lead–bismuth–gallium glass matrix structure modification

•Lead–bismuth–gallium glasses based on composition 40PbO–35Bi2O3–25Ga2O3–xEr2O3 were prepared by conventional melt quenching technique in alumina crucible.•For this composition, the values of Judd-Ofelt parameters Ω2, Ω4, Ω6 were calculated for the first time.•The correlation of the glass metallization factor versus the Judd-Ofelt parameter Ω2 was established.•A combined analysis of the physical and spectroscopic characteristics revealed the effect of the concentration of erbium ions on the modification of the structure of the glassy matrix. Erbium-doped glasses with the molar composition 40PbO–35Bi2O3–25Ga2O3–xEr2O3 (mol.%, x = 0, 0.04, 0.08, 0.16, 0.27, 0.39), have been prepared by conventional melt quenching technique in alumina crucible. The values of characteristic temperatures, the thermal stability parameter and phonon energy of the undoped glass matrix were measured. The values of density, refractive index, molar volume, molar refraction, optical absorption coefficient of erbium transitions and Judd–Ofelt parameters Ω2, Ω4, Ω6 were determined and used to evaluate the effect of increasing the Er3+ content on the glass structural and luminescent properties of lead–bismuth–gallium glasses. The correlation of the glass metallization factor versus the Judd-Ofelt parameter Ω2 was established. The modification of the local environment of the rare-earth ion was obtained with an increase in the concentration of erbium. In the investigation it is shown that erbium ions act as ion-modifiers of the structure of a glassy matrix.