Abstract

Er3?-doped AlBaKMgAg phosphate glass was successfully synthesized via melt-quenching and comprehensively characterized for multifunctional applications. Structural analysis confirmed the amorphous nature with depolymerised Q?–Q2 phosphate units, while UV–Vis-NIR spectroscopy revealed characteristic Er3? absorption bands (321–666 nm), confirming successful ion incorporation. The glass exhibited a 3.9 eV optical band gap and intense green emission under 380 nm excitation, alongside high microhardness and promising dielectric performance. Gamma-ray shielding studies demonstrated strong attenuation capabilities with high Zeff and Neff values. EPR analysis verified Er3? ions in distorted octahedral coordination, while thermoluminescence revealed stable trapping centers at 196 °C and 348 °C, indicating potential for radiation dosimetry. These results collectively highlight the material's suitability for photonic, shielding, and dosimetric applications. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.