Enhanced ∼2.85 μm mid-infrared emission of Na5Lu9F32: Pr3+/Ho3+ single crystal by introducing of non active Gd3+ ions

Abstract

A series of novel Na5Lu9F32 fluoride single crystals by keeping the concentrations of Ho3+ (0.5 mol%) and Pr3+ (0.1 mol%) fixed and varying the concentrations of Gd3+ ions (i.e., 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.2, 1.5 mol%) were prepared successfully by a reformative Bridgman technique for application of 2.85 μm mid-infrared. The impact of the non active Gd3+ ion on the crystallographic structure and optical properties of the single crystal were explored by the aid of the X-ray diffraction, Rietveld refinement, spectra of absorption and emission and decay curves of fluorescence. By leading Gd3+ (1.2 mol%) into Ho3+(0.5 mol%)/Pr3+(0.1 mol%) incorporated Na5Lu9F32 single crystal, the emission intensity at ∼ 2.85 μm was fulfilled significantly about two times enhancement. The destruction of [Ho3+-Ho3+] ion quench clusters and release more luminescent ions are in charge of the enhancement of the emission at 2.85 μm by leading Gd3+ into the fluoride single crystal. The maximum emission cross-section, ∼5.2 × 10−20 cm2, at ∼2.85 μm was estimated on the basis of the emission spectra. Thus, the grown Pr3+/Ho3+/Gd3+ incorporated Na5Lu9F32 fluoride single crystals could be an excellent candidate for source of ∼2.85 μm mid-infrared solid-state laser device.