Magnetic and magneto-optical properties of manganese-containing antimony phosphate glasses – An alternative to Faraday rotators

Glasses in system 100-x(70SbPO4–10ZnO–20PbO) xMnO, with x = 0, 10, 20 and 30 mol %, where prepared by the conventional melting-quenching method. The glasses were cut, polished and characterized by XRD, DSC, Raman, FTIR, UV–Vis and luminescence and magnetic and magneto-optical aiming application ultimate as in magneto-optical devices. These samples containing manganese exhibit magnetic response to neodymium magnets at room temperature. In addition, they feature thermal stability above 100 °C, wide transparency in the visible and near infrared region. The optical absorption spectra of the glass revealed the presence of characteristic absorption bands of Mn2+ at 410 nm attributed to 6A1(S) → 4A1, 4E (4G) transition and possible oxidation at around 550 nm assigned to 5B1g → 5B2g transition of the Mn3+ ions. Refractive indices higher than 1.8 and characteristic emission bands around 680–720 nm, assigned to 4T1(G)→6A1(S) transition, were also observed. Magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed the paramagnetic character of the Mn-containing glasses, with antiparallel spin alignment. Finally, a linear growth trend was observed for the Verdet constant along with the Mn2+ concentration and the highest value measured, for sample containing 30 mol% of MnO, was −55.1 ± 3.2 rad T−1 m−1 at 632.8 nm. This value is close to those of some families of glasses containing rare earths, being an alternative of new low-cost magneto-optical vitreous materials.