Structure and spectroscopic properties of Er3+/Ce3+ co-doped TeO2-Bi2O3-TiO2 glasses modified with various WO3 contents for 1.53 μm emission

Abstract

The Er3+/Ce3+ co-doped tellurite-based glasses (TeO2-Bi2O3-TiO2) modified with various WO3 contents are prepared using conventional melt-quenching technique. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and Raman spectra of glass samples are measured to investigate the structures. The absorption spectra, the up-conversion emission spectra, the 1.53 μm band fluorescence spectra and the lifetime of Er3+:4I13/2 level are measured, and the amplification quality factors of Er3+ are calculated to evaluate the effect of WO3 contents on the 1.53 μm band spectroscopic properties. With the introduction of WO3, it is found that the prepared tellurite-based glasses maintain the amorphous structure, while the 1.53 μm band fluorescence intensity of Er3+ is improved evidently, and the fluorescence full width at half maximum (FWHM) is broadened accordingly. In addition, the prepared tellurite-based glass samples have larger bandwidth quality factor than silicate and germanate glasses. The results indicate that the prepared Er3+/Ce3+ co-doped tellurite-based glass with a certain amount of WO3 is an excellent gain medium applied for the 1.53 μm band Er3+-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA).