Synthesis, Morphology and Luminescence Properties of Pr3+-containing Phosphate-Molybdate Glass-Ceramics

The procedure for synthesis of luminescent glass-ceramics consisting of 37.09K
2
O-31.79P
2
O
5
-25.43MoO
3
-5.69Bi
2
O
3
vitreous phase and KBi
0.993
Pr
0.007
(MoO
4
)
2
micro/nanocrystals was described. The results of powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, FTIR and luminescence spectroscopy studies were discussed. It was found that the glass-ceramics samples consist mainly of amorphous phase. The FTIR spectra of the samples indicate a presence of MoO
4
^2-
and PO
4
^3-
tetrahedra, as well as MoO
6
^6-
octahedra in the vitreous framework. The uniform distribution of microsized crystals of potassium bismuth molybdate were found at surfaces of the samples. The KBi
0.993
Pr
0.007
(MoO
4
)
2
grains act as crystallization centres during glass-ceramics preparation. The studied samples revealed the luminescence bands of f-f transitions in Pr
³⁺
ions. The broadening of Pr
³⁺
emission bands in glass-ceramic samples was ascribed to migration of some rare-earth ions from crystalline component into glass host as well to formation of BiPO
4
microcrystals.