Electronic polarizability, optical basicity and interaction parameter for Nd2O3 doped lithium–zinc–phosphate glasses

The Nd 3+ -doped lithium–zinc–phosphate glasses were prepared by means of conventional melt quenching method. X-ray diffraction results confirmed the glassy nature of the studied glasses. The physical parameters such as the density, molar volume, ion concentration, polaron radius, inter-ionic distance, field strength and oxygen packing density were calculated using different formulae. The transmittance and reflectance spectra of glasses were recorded in the wavelength range 190–1200 nm. The values of optical band gap and Urbach energy were determined based on Mott–Davis model. The refractive indices for the studied glasses were evaluated from optical band gap values using different methods. The average electronic polarizability of the oxide ions, optical basicity and an interaction parameter were investigated from the calculated values of the refractive index and the optical band gap for the studied glasses. The variations in the different physical and optical properties of glasses with Nd 2 O 3 content were discussed in terms of different parameters such as non-bridging oxygen and different concentrations of Nd cation in glass system.