This book presents the synthesis and analysis of zinc phosphates and also strontium (barium) borophosphates doped with samarium as glasses and glass ceramics. The work contains detailed structural and functional studies of various modifications of these compositions. It was found a correlation between the structures of materials and some of their physical properties. Detailed study of chemical, physical and thermal characteristics of these new materials focus their industrial applications. The book presents the behavior of samarium which is ionized during the materials synthesis that in some cases converts the valence by X-rays irradiation. It is defined the glass forming range depending on the starting composition of these glass and glass ceramics and determined the chemical durability as well. The transformation of the ultraviolet radiation into visible light when these materials exposed to different irradiation are registered and a potential use such as dosimeters application, solar cells, additives to protect valuable documents etc. The experimental data and the discussion described provide guidance for commercial implementation of these new optically active materials.

Dr. Irena Kostova currently works at the University of Plovdiv "Paisii Hilendarski", Bulgaria. She has participated in National, European and Canadian research projects.Her current research interests are in the areas of synthesis and study of glass and glass-ceramics luminescent materials.