Preparation and magneto-optical properties of stable bismuth phosphate nanoparticles in phosphate glass

Abstract

Synthesis of bismuth phosphate (BiPO₄) nanocrystals in low melting phosphate glass and its optical and magneto-optical properties were investigated. The presence of BiPO₄ nanoparticles was confirmed by X-ray diffractometry and Raman spectroscopy. The optical transmission spectra of the glass samples showed that the red shift in the absorption edge is due to the presence of BiPO₄ nanoparticles in the glass. Faraday rotation tests on the glass nanocomposite showed a large increase in the Verdet constant caused by BiPO₄ nanoparticles in the phosphate glass. The BiPO₄-glass nanosystem showed a higher Verdet constant (21.2° T⁻¹ cm⁻¹), which was increased 3-fold compared with the Verdet constant of BK-7 glass (7.52° T⁻¹ cm⁻¹). The BiPO₄ glass nanocomposite may have potential applications in magneto-optical devices.