Abstract
Optimizing the efficiency of Er3+ emission in the near-infrared telecommunication window in glass matrices is currently a subject of great interest in photonics research. In this work, Cu+ ions are shown to be successfully stabilized at a high concentration in Er-containing phosphate glass by a single-step melt-quench method, and demonstrated to transfer energy to Er3+ thereby enhancing the near-infrared emission about 15 times. The spectroscopic data indicate an energy conversion process where Cu + ions first absorb photons broadly around 360 nm and subsequently transfer energy from the Stokes-shifted emitting states to resonant Er 3+ absorption transitions in the visible. Consequently, the Er 3+ electronic excited states decay and the 4I 3/2 metastable state is populated, leading to the enhanced emission at 1.53 μm. Monovalent copper ions are thus recognized as sensitizers of Er3+ ions, suggesting the potential of Cu+ co-doping for applications in the telecommunications, solar cells, and solid-state lasing realizable under broad band near-ultraviolet optical pumping.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 033518 |
Journal | Journal of Applied Physics |
Volume | 116 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 21 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)