Observation of defect-assisted enhanced visible whispering gallery modes in ytterbium-doped ZnO microsphere

Abstract

Smooth surfaced and crystalline undoped and ytterbium doped zinc oxide (ZnO) microspheres having an approximate size of 3–5 μm were synthesized by hydrothermal process. Out of these microspheres, a single microparticle was chosen and engaged as a whispering gallery wave microresonator. The defect induced luminescence from an individual ZnO microsphere was investigated with micro-photoluminescence measurement in the spectral range of 565 to 740 nm under the excitation of a green laser having a centered wavelength at 532 nm. The defects-related emissions from a single ZnO microsphere show optical resonance peaks so-called “whispering gallery modes” (WGMs) which are confirmed with the theoretical calculation. Further, ZnO microspheres were chemically doped with the different molar percentages of Ytterbium (Yb), and enhancement in their emission properties was investigated. Our experimental results show that ZnO microspheres with 0.5 mol. % doping of Yb gives the strongest optical emission and has highest Q-factor which can be employed in the development of WGM based optical biosensor or laser.