MICROSTRUCTURE AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF ERBIUM DOPED SILICA-BASED FILMS VIA FLAME HYDROLYSIS DEPOSITION AND AEROSOL DOPING

Abstract

Silica-based films on Si fabricated by flame hydrolysis deposition were doped with erbium ions using an aerosol doping technique, and co-doped with GeO 2, P 2 O 5 and B 2 O 3. The erbium solution concentration was varied from 4 to 8wt%. The results show that the refractive index of the films is not changed with erbium addition and no OH group is detected for erbium doped silica-based films. An obvious peak was observed at 1.542 µm with the FWHM of 65 nm, which corresponds to the 4 I 13/2 → 4 I 15/2 transition. With the increase of Er solution concentration, the photoluminescence (PL) intensity first increases, then decreases above 6 wt % Er solution concentration. The decrease in PL intensity with concentration is attributed to concentration quenching caused by Er - Er interaction. The dependence of PL intensity on pump power intensity further confirms the concentration quenching is cooperative upconversion.