Enhanced near/mid-infrared emission bands centered at ∼1.54 and ∼2.73 µm of Er3+-doped in transparent silicate glass-ceramics via Mn2+-Yb3+ dimer

Abstract

The near/mid-infrared emission of Er3+-doped, Er3+-Yb3+ co-doped and Er3+-Mn2+-Yb3+ tri-doped in 40SiO2–(22.9-x)Al2O3–20BaF2–10LaF3–5TiO2– xMnO–0.1Er2O3–2Yb2O3 (in mol.%, x = 0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 10.0) (acronym: SGC-xMn) transparent silicate glass-ceramics were prepared. Enhanced near/mid-infrared emission intensity of Er3+-doped bands centered at ∼1.54 and ∼2.73 µm in transparent silicate glass-ceramics via Mn2+–Yb3+ dimer under 980 nm excitation were investigated. XRD results indicate that the Mn2+ ions are dispersed into the glass matrix. With the forming of Mn2+–Yb3+ dimer and the energy transfer processes from Mn2+–Yb3+ dimer and Mn2+ to Er3+ ions has led to NIR emission intensity of Er3+-doped at ∼1.54 µm was increased significantly about four-fold and the MIR emission intensity of Er3+-doped at ∼2.73 µm was increased about third-fold. In addition, based on the decay time spectra, mechanism of energy transfer processes between Mn2+–Yb3+ dimer, Mn2+ and Er3+ ions were also discussed.