Effect of compositional variation on optical and structure properties of europium-dopedSiO2-HfO2 glasses

Glasses with compositions (100−x)SiO2−xHfO2:0.3Eu3+ (molar ratio, x=0,10,20,30) for optical applications were prepared using the sol-gel route. The introduction of hafnium into the glass matrix induced the energy splitting of the F27 state of Eu3+ ions. Furthermore, fluorescence line narrowing (FLN) spectra indicated that Eu3+ clustering occurred in glasses containing no hafnium. The addition of hafnium promoted better dispersion of Eu3+ ions in the glass matrix. The role of hafnium on modifying the properties of glasses was discussed with respect to x-ray diffraction and FLN analysis