Doping Effects of Pigment Oxides on Optical and Mechanical Properties of PbO-Based Glasses

The current academic study focuses on analysis and synthesization of a high density, high refractive indexed heavy metal oxide pigmented heat absorbent sodium silicate glass system xPbO-y(0.14Cu2O-0.05CuO-0.03SnO2) -30Na2O-(70-0.22y-x)SiO2 (x= 0,1.5,10 mol% and y = 0,1) explored with various ratios PbO doping via conventional melt annealing route, resulted optimally suited material for various linear and nonlinear optoelectronic applications. The fundamental physio-mechanical properties like density(ρ), molar volume(V_m ), and oxygen packing density (OPD) of synthesized samples were analyzed, alongside elastic moduli were computed utilizing experimental, Makishima-Mackenzie, & Rocherulle models. When the XRD data verified the substance's amorphous character, the FTIR study specified the vibrational bands associated with the silicate matrix’s structure. The visible optical properties, solar optical properties, refractive index (n), extinction coefficient (k) optical dielectric constants, direct &indirect optical band gap, and Urbach energy (〖 E〗_( U) ) were measured from computed spectral data collected by Jasco V-770 spectrophotometer in the solar spectrum wavelength spanning 190 nm - 1100 nm, as a result, the computed indirect optical band gap energy (E_gind ) and, direct optical band gap energy (E_gd ) were illustrated to be in the 1.64-2.61 and, 2.57-3.03 eV range respectively. Using the absorption spectra, the average of refraction index (n_0 ), corresponding nonlinear refractive index (n_( 2) ), molar refraction (R_( m) ), polarizability (α_m ), reflection loss (R_L ), optical transmission (T), metallization criterion (M_c ), optical electronegativity (〖Δχ〗^* ), third order nonlinear optical susceptibility(χ^((3)) ) have all been calculated, whereas the beneficiary parameter, optical basicity (Λ_th) has been also evaluated. All the above characterizations have been established and explored, paving the road for the created product to be an acceptable option for commercial construction, especially for exterior use in high-light areas as well as optoelectronic devices.