Improved self-cleaning and spectral features of erbium doped tellurite glass with titania nanoparticles sensitization

Abstract

The effects of Titania nanoparticles (TiNPs) sensitization on the self-cleaning, spectral, and physical properties of erbium-doped tellurite glass were determined. Five glass samples with composition (69-x)TeO2-20ZnO-10Na2O-1Er2O3-(x)TiO2, where x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 mol% were synthesized using melt quenching method. XRD pattern confirmed the amorphous nature of prepared samples and TEM images manifested the growth of nearly spherical TiNPs of average size ≈14 ± 1 nm inside the glass matrix. The observed decrease in the water contact angle from 68o to 43° with increasing TiNPs contents was ascribed to the increase of glass surface hydrophilicity. Meanwhile, enhanced degradation rate of methylene blue (MB) with increasing TiNPs contents up to 0.2 mol% indicated an improved photocatalytic activity of the glass sample. The UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectra exhibited ten significant bands of Er3+ ions. Two plasmon absorption bands were evidenced at 552 and 580 nm. The green band in the photoluminescence spectra of sample containing 0.2 mol% of TiNPs showed highest enhancement factor of 30 times. It is established that the present glass composition is prospective for making self-cleaning surfaces and other display devices.