Structure–property relationship and spectroscopic studies of BaO–B2O3 oxide glasses containing ZnO for optical applications

[Display omitted] In the present work, samples of barium borate glasses containing different molar ratios of ZnO were prepared using the conventional melt-quenching technique. X-ray diffraction studies confirmed the amorphous nature of the studied materials. Structural analysis using FT-Infrared confirmed the incorporation of the Zn atom in the glass matrix as a ZnO4 unit and the existence of ZnO in the tetrahedral interstitial sites. TEM images for the studied materials show that the average particle size is about 20nm and the ZnO4 structural units reside in the glass matrix with high homogeneity. Density and molar volume studies manifested an increase in the density as the amount of ZnO increases and a subsequent decrease in the molar volume. UV absorption studies showed a blue shift in the absorption peak from 343nm to 315nm. Additionally, an observed reversible behavior around 338nm divides the absorption range into high energy and low energy regions. In the high energy region, both absorbance, absorption coefficient, and refractive index increased with ZnO content increment. In the low energy region, this behavior was reversed, and the calculated values of the refractive index agreed with the measured ones in this region. Studies of optical dielectric parameters showed a Debye-type relaxation process in which increasing the ZnO content shortens the sample relaxation time. Our results, collectively, suggest the studied materials for several optoelectronic device applications such as high-energy optical filters, optical switches, and frequency converters. En el presente trabajo se prepararon muestras de vidrios de óxido de borato de bario que contienen diferentes proporciones molares de ZnO, utilizando la técnica convencional de melt-quenching. Los estudios de difracción de rayos X confirmaron la naturaleza amorfa de los materiales estudiados. El análisis estructural utilizando FT-Infrared confirmó la incorporación del átomo de Zn en la matriz del vidrio como una unidad de ZnO4 y la existencia de ZnO en los sitios intersticiales tetraédricos. Las imágenes TEM de los materiales estudiados muestran que el tamaño promedio de partícula es de aproximadamente 20nm y las unidades estructurales de ZnO4 residen en la matriz de vidrio con alta homogeneidad. Los estudios de densidad y volumen molar manifestaron un aumento de la densidad con el incremento de la cantidad de ZnO y una posterior disminución del volumen molar. Los estudios de absorción de UV mostraron