Structural, thermal and spectroscopic properties of Er2O3-doped oxyfluoro tellurophosphate glasses

Abstract

Employing the melt quench method, the oxyfluoro tellurophosphate glasses (PTBMEr), doped with varying erbium concentrations, were prepared. Their physical, structural, optical, and luminescent characteristics were investigated using XRD, EDX, FTIR, absorption and Photoluminescence studies. The amorphous nature and elemental composition were identified using the XRD and EDX spectra. The J-O parameters and radiative parameters, including energy gap (ΔE), branching ratio (βR), radiative lifetime (τrad), and radiative transition probability (AR), were established for different excited levels of erbium in PTBMEr glass matrices. The visible emission spectra were acquired through excitation at a wavelength of 377 nm, resulting in a highly pronounced emission band at 544 nm, corresponding to the transition 4S3/2→ 4I15/2. The NIR emission spectra obtained through excitation at 980 nm showed a prominent broad emission band at 1534 nm pertaining to the transition 4I13/2→4I15/2. Within the set of prepared samples, the PTBMEr05 sample exhibits highest stimulated emission cross section of 0.75 × 10-20 cm2 for the transition 4S3/2→4I15/2. It also exbited superior parameters for the transition 4S3/2→4I15/2 including a stimulated emission crosssection of 1.19 × 10-20 cm2, gain bandwidth of 64.87 × 10-25 cm3, and optical gain of 53.41 × 10-24 cm2s. Experimental lifetime values for the excited level 4I13/2 of erbium in PTBMEr glasses were calculated and found to decrease with concentration due to non-radiative mechanisms and concentration quenching. These results reflect that PTBMEr05 glass is best suited for green laser emission devices and optical fiber communication windows.