Effect of Nd3+ ions on the structural, physical and emission properties of some As2O3. V2O5. CuO glasses

A set of Nd³⁺ doped vanadium arsenate glasses having the formula 25% As₂O₃ . 70% V₂O₅ . (x-5)% CuO . x% Nd₂O₃ (where 0 ≤ x ≤ 2 mol% ) are manufactured by the ordinary melt quenching technique.  These glasses are investigated by several tools. Complete amorphous phase is confirmed for all samples. The calculated optical basicity decreases with the increase of Nd₂O₃ mole% in the glasses, while the molar refractive index follows an opposite trend. The metallization criterion calculation confirms the insulating nature of the samples, and such nature increases with increasing the Nd₂O₃ content. T_g, T_c and thermal stability of the glasses are found to increase with increasing the Nd₂O₃ content in the glasses. Continuous addition of the Nd³⁺ ions increases the thermal conductivity of the glasses from 0.11 to 0.178 W/m.^oC. Emission spectra due to 365 nm stirring light demonstrates emission peaks around 506, 542, 580 and 635nm from the samples.