Structural, spectroscopic and magnetic properties of Nd3+ doped lead tellurite glass ceramics containing silver

Structural, optical, luminescent and magnetic properties of some lead tellurite glass ceramics doped with variable amounts of neodymium oxide (Nd2O3) and co-doped with fixed amounts of silver (metallic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and silver oxide (Ag2O)) were investigated using density, X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance ultraviolet-visible (DR-UV–vis) spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and magnetic susceptibility measurements. XRD data were used to evaluate the average crystallite size and degree of crystallinity of the studied lead tellurite glass ceramics. DR-UV–vis spectra reveal the presence of Nd3+ ions in the studied samples. Both series of samples (co-doped with AgNPs or with Ag2O) exhibit negative values for the bonding parameter (δ) suggesting an ionic type of Nd3+-ligand bonds. The photoluminescence data show that for Nd2O3 concentrations higher than 1 mol% the PL peaks decrease in intensity, this concentration representing the quenching concentration. Magnetic measurement data indicate that for Nd2O3 contents lower than 3 mol% the Nd3+ ions exist as isolated species or participate to dipole-dipole interactions while for higher contents Nd3+ ions exist as species coupled by antiferromagnetic interactions. •Magnetic susceptibility data reveal a mictomagnetic type behavior.•Both isolated and exchange coupled Nd3+ ions are present in the host glass ceramic.•The metallic silver nanoparticles are excited by TPA mechanism.•Metallic silver nanoparticles transfer energy to the neodymium.•Upconversion phenomena are observed through some emission peaks.