Optical Properties of Er3+-Yb3+ Ions Co-activated Multicomponent Phosphate Glasses for Near-Infrared Applications

• Published in: Brazilian journal of physics 2023-02, Vol.53 (1), Article 21
• Main Authors: Ismail, M. M., Battisha, I. K., Geetha, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorptivity; Aluminum; Barium; Condensed Matter; Emission analysis; Energy levels; Erbium; Field emission microscopy; Glass; Optical measuring instruments; Optical properties; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Waveguides; Ytterbium
• ISSN: 0103-9733; 1678-4448
• DOI: 10.1007/s13538-022-01241-1

In the present study, Er 3+ -Yb 3+ co-activated multicomponent phosphate glasses were prepared by conventional melt quenching technique. The x-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the amorphous nature of all the samples. Field emission scanning electron microscopy of the glasses revealed homogeneous and smooth morphology. Moreover, the EDAX results confirmed the existence of phosphate, oxygen, aluminum, sodium, potassium, barium, erbium, and ytterbium in the glass matrix. The optical properties were determined and the absorption coefficient was calculated using absorbance spectrum, which contains 11 bands attributed to the transitions from the ground state 4 I 15/2 up to the various higher states 4 I 13/2 , 4 I 11/2 , 4 I 9/2 , 4 F 9/2 , 4 S 3/2 , 2 H 11/2 , 4 F 7/2 , 4 F 5/2 , 2 G 9/2 , 4 G 11/2 , and 4 G 9/2 , respectively. The mentioned bands’ presence is due to energy levels reported for Er 3+ ion glass systems. However, the band around 970 nm is corresponding to 2 F 7/2→ 2 F 5/2 (Yb 3+ ) and 4 I 11/2→ 4 I 15/2 (Er 3+ ) Er 3+ intra-4F-transition of erbium ions. The radiative properties for the metastable level 4 I 13/2 were determined by virtue of the Judd–Ofelt theory. The τ r slightly decreases with the increase in Yb 3+ ion sensitizer, and it has maximum value equal to (11.49 ms) for PANBK0.5Er0.5Yb sample. This study introduced promising results to be applied in laser as well as wave guide optical amplifiers’ applications around 1.5 μm, with higher intensity emission bands by doping the prepared sample with 0.5 mol% Er 3+ –0.75 mol% Yb 3+ ions. The PL results in the NIR region at 1.5 µm leading to higher intensity of PANBK0.5Er0.75Yb sample support wave guide optical sensor system application.