Rare Earth Erbium Research Articles

Engineering and polarization properties of erbium-implanted lithium niobate films for integrated quantum applications

Rare-earth-doped materials have garnered significant attention as material platforms in emerging quantum information and integrated photonic technologies. Concurrently, advances in its nanofabrication processes have unleashed thin film lithium niobate (LN) as a leading force of research in these technologies, encompassing many outstanding properties in a single material. Leveraging the scalability of ion implantation to integrate rare-earth erbium (Er3+), which emits at 1532 nm, into LN can enable a plethora of exciting photonic and quantum technologies operating in the telecom C-band. Many of these technologies rely on coupling via polarization-sensitive photonic structures such as waveguides and optical nanocavities, necessitating fundamental material studies. Toward this goal, we have conducted an extensive study on the role of implantation and post-implantation processing in minimizing implantation-induced defectivity in x-cut thin film LN on an insulator. By leveraging this, we have demonstrated a cutting-edge ensemble optical linewidth of 140 GHz for Er emission in x-cut thin-film LN at 77 K. This finding highlights the significant progress in minimizing implantation-induced defects through careful ion implantation engineering and post-implantation processing. To the best of our knowledge, this linewidth measured at a higher temperature (77 K) is the narrowest when compared to the values reported for bulk-doped and implanted LN crystals at liquid helium temperatures (∼3 K), showcasing the potential of our approach for higher-temperature operation devices. Furthermore, we show that the Er photoluminescence (PL) is highly polarized perpendicular to the x-cut LN c-axis through systematic and combinational PL and high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (HRSTEM) studies. These results indicate that using Er emitters in thin film LN, along with their polarization characteristics and related ion implantation engineering, presents an opportunity to produce highly luminescent Er-doped LN photonic integrated devices and circuits for quantum and nanophotonic applications at telecom wavelengths.

Effects of Er2O3 contribution on microstructure and mechanical properties of high entropy and dual phase alloys

The study aimed to look at the differences between a high entropy alloy and a dual phase high entropy alloy with high iron and Mn content. It also wanted to find out what happened when a small amount of the rare earth element erbium oxide (Er2O3) was added to these alloys, especially on the mechanical and microstructure of the alloy. The first step in this study was to get 99 % pure metal powders, which were then made by dividing the powders into 30 g of equal weight. The powders were mixed evenly and then pressed into 10-g blocks under 6 tons of pressure. They were then set up to be melted in an arc. Four of the eight samples that were melted in an arc under vacuum were treated with heat. The four different compositions were then turned into small metallographic samples for SEM, EDX, Mapping, XRD, and microhardness tests. The study's imaging and analysis processes were also carried out. After that, SEM images were taken at various magnifications (100X, 500X, 1000X, 2500X, and 5000X), and EDS and XRD analyses were done on different structures found in these images. These analyses were based on literature research about the clarity of the metallographic images in the alloy, which showed the study's metallographic differences. The samples were put through microhardness and wear tests to see which one was stronger and less worn. The dual phase high entropy alloy (A2) was stronger and less worn than the high entropy alloy (A1). Er2O3 had little effect on the alloys' mechanical properties or microstructure. The heat treatment that was done to the samples helped the metallographic structure. In terms of physics, it didn't change the hardness much, but it did make the material wear less quickly.

Electronic structure of rare-earth erbium-doped platinum diselenide: A density functional theory study

The effect of rare-earth erbium (Er) doping on the electronic structure of platinum diselenide (PtSe2) as a 2D transition metal dichalcogenide was studied using density functional theory (DFT). Our DFT calculations showed that Er dopant in PtSe2 led to the formation of additional states in the valence and conduction bands, and new localized states within the band gap of PtSe2. The orbital-resolved density of states revealed that the 4f orbitals of the dopant Er atom strongly impact the electronic structure of the monolayer PtSe2 and induce spin-polarized localized states. Simultaneously, in addition to a significant increase in the PtSe2 surface energy (52-fold) due to Er doping (from 7.94 × 10−5 to 4.16 × 10−3 eV/Å2), the formation energy of the Er-doped PtSe2 (−328.72 kJ/mol) compared to the pristine PtSe2 (−326.52 kJ/mol) indicates that Er doping has made the PtSe2 system thermodynamically more stable. The results of this study can be used as a guide to design devices for optoelectronic applications such as sensors.

Development of Highly Machinable Ti Alloy with Exceptional Tensile Properties by Er Alloying Element Addition

This study demonstrates that the addition of the rare earth element Erbium (Er) significantly enhances the machinability and tensile properties of titanium (Ti). Pure Ti alloys and Er-added Ti alloys with 0.5-1.1 wt.% Er content were prepared, and their microstructure, machinability, and tensile properties were compared. Two different types of Er secondary phase particles were identified in the microstructure: pure Er and Er-oxide. The amounts of these particles increased with higher Er content. The machinability of the Eradded Ti alloys was significantly improved due to the ability of Er secondary particles to cut machining chips or absorb heat from localized deformation within the Ti matrix. In addition, Er-added Ti alloys exhibited higher strength than pure Ti. The strength enhancement was attributed to grain refinement induced by the Er element. Er secondary phase particles reduced the β grain size during solidification, and they also served as preferential sites for α nucleation during the β → α phase transformation, resulting in a refined microstructure. In addition, the Er secondary phase contributed to the strength enhancement through the well-known precipitation strengthening mechanism. Although ductility decreased with higher Er content due to the increased amount of Er secondary phase particles, 0.5 wt.% Er-added Ti showed no such degradation; its ductility was comparable to that of pure Ti. Er-oxidation was expected to reduce oxygen content within the Ti matrix, enhancing intrinsic Ti ductility; this effect offset the adverse impact on ductility caused by the Er secondary phase particles. Above 0.5 wt.% Er, the adverse effects caused by the Er secondary phase particles overwhelmed the beneficial effect caused by the reduction in oxygen content. The present findings will contribute significantly to the development of highly machinable Ti alloys with superior tensile properties.

Superior energy storage density and bright upconversion emission in Er-modified KNN-based multifunctional ferroelectric ceramics

Developing highly tunable multifunctional performances in one ferroelectric system is in line with the integration trend of electronic equipment. Herein, rare earth erbium (Er) modulated 0.95K0.5Na0.5NbO3–0.05Bi(Li0.5Nb0.5)O3–x%Er photoluminescent–ferroelectric energy storage multifunctional ceramics are prepared. All the compositions exhibit a similar grain size and compact microstructure. In addition, the optimized Er dopant enhances the enhanced relaxor characteristic and reduces oxygen vacancies. The introduction of Er3+ into perovskite lattice contributes to the observed photoluminescence behavior. Therefore, high effective energy storage density (Wrec) of 7.17 J/cm3, energy storage efficiency (η) of 65.4%, and strong green/red upconversion photoluminescence are obtained in x = 0.2 sample. This work opens up a paradigm to develop multifunctional ferroelectric ceramics for application in electro-optical devices.

Synthesis and characterisation of erbium doped gadolinium oxide (Er:Gd2O3) nanorods

The aim of the present investigation is to synthesis the rare earth oxide sample in single phase with nanocrystalline nature which is used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other bio medical applications. Hence the present research is focussed on the synthesising of nanomaterials using co-precipitation method and few characterization techniques are adapted to characterize the synthesised samples. Erbium-doped gadolinium oxide (Er:Gd2O3) nanorods were successfully synthesized by co-precipitation method. Rare earth erbium (Er) dopant was maintained in the ratio of 5 % to avoid concentration quenching (Gd1.95Er0.05O3). The synthesized samples were then annealed to 1000 °C, in which the hexagonal phase of gadolinium hydroxides transform to cubic phase Er:Gd2O3 nanorods. Powder X-ray (XRD) diffraction analysis was used to confirm the obtained single phase. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum of the synthesized sample indicates the existence of all functional groups, and the fingerprint regions of gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) and Erbium oxide (Er2O3) planar vibrations. Morphological behaviour of the synthesized Er:Gd2O3 nanorods was subjected to scanning electron microscope (SEM) fitted with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis to view the shape and size of the synthesized nanorods and to estimate the elemental composition of the synthesized samples. The results were discussed in a detailed manner.

Spectral dynamics of pseudo-distributed erbium gain in Raman random fiber laser

This work explores the spectral dynamics of pseudo-distributed erbium gain in a Raman-based open cavity hybrid random fiber laser (RFL) and compares it to two other schemes; without erbium-doped fiber (EDF) and with EDF integrated mid-cavity. The pseudo-distribution of erbium gain is simulated by splicing short segments of EDF in between single-mode fiber (SMF) spools. The three schemes have similar total SMF lengths of 78 km, and a total of 30 m EDF if any. It was established that the laser wavelength shifts significantly from 1555.936 nm to 1565.904 nm simply by the insertion of EDF mid-cavity, while the distribution of EDF segments along the cavity allowed the generation of dual-wavelength lasing at 1559.964 and 1565.236 nm. The distribution of EDF also generated a higher maximum output power of 485.60 mW compared to the schemes with lumped EDF and without EDF of 409.17 mW and 352.02 mW output powers, respectively. However, the increment came at the expense of a longer instability event from homogenous gain broadening of SBS induced Stokes and a delayed onset of laser threshold condition. We discuss the formations of these different laser schemes and its dynamics permitted solely due to the uniqueness of random fiber lasers. The scheme presents an interesting opportunity in the development of hybrid random fiber lasers, and the analysis of this structure offers insights for better designed dual-wavelength random fiber lasers and the role that rare-earth Erbium dopant plays in the formation of laser in a Raman-based fiber cavity.

A highly sensitive rare earth erbium doped In2S3 thin films for photodetection applications

A highly sensitive rare earth erbium doped In2S3 thin films for photodetection applications

Inhibiting oxygen vacancies and twisting NbO6 octahedron in erbium modified KNN-based multifunctional ceramics

It is a challenge to obtain highly tunable multifunctional performances in one ferroelectric system by a simple approach to meet the miniaturization, integration, and functionalization requirements of advanced electronic components. Herein, rare earth erbium (Er) modulated 0.9K0.5Na0.5NbO3-0.1Sr(1-x)ErxTi(1-x/4)O3, (0.9KNN-0.1ST: xEr) transparent-photoluminescent-ferroelectric energy storage multifunctional ceramics are prepared to solve this problem. The effect of lattice distortion and oxygen vacancies by Er doping on the optical and electrical properties is systematically investigated. The Er3+ ions can introduce a large distortion of the NbO6 octahedron by replacing the A-site in KNN-based ceramics. Thanks to the higher c/a ratio and lower oxygen vacancy content are simultaneously obtained in 0.9KNN-0.1ST: 0.1Er ceramics. The effective energy storage density (Wrec) of 0.86 J/cm3, excellent near-infrared transmittance of 51.7% (1 100 nm) and strong green upconversion photoluminescence are achieved in this multifunctional ceramic. This study provides a solid basis for rare earth ions doped ferroelectric ceramics with tunable multifunctional properties and has significant potential for applications in optoelectronic devices.

Effect of Rare Earth Elements Erbium and Europium Addition on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of A356 (Al–7Si–0.3Mg) Alloy

Effect of Rare Earth Elements Erbium and Europium Addition on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of A356 (Al–7Si–0.3Mg) Alloy

Recent Progress in On-Chip Erbium-Based Light Sources

In recent years, silicon photonics has achieved great success in optical communication area. More and more on-chip optoelectronic devices have been realized and commercialized on silicon photonics platform, such as silicon-based modulators, filters and detectors. However, on-chip light sources are still not achieved because that silicon is an indirect bandgap material. To solve this problem, the rare earth element erbium (Er) is considered, which emits light covering 1.5 μm to 1.6 μm and has been widely used in fiber amplifiers. Compared to Er-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA), the Er ion concentration needs to be more than two orders higher for on-chip Er-based light sources due to the compact size integration requirements. Therefore, the choice of the host material is crucially important. In this paper, we review the recent progress in on-chip Er-based light sources and the advantages and disadvantages of different host materials are compared and analyzed. Finally, the existing challenges and development directions of the on-chip Er-based light sources are discussed.

Improving the hydrogen evolution reaction activity of molybdenum-based heterojunction nanocluster capsules via electronic modulation by erbium–nitrogen–phosphorus ternary doping

The realization of a hydrogen-based economy with robust hydrogen evolution reaction catalysts remains a challenge. In this study, we prepared MoO2/Mo2N3 heterostructure nanoclusters co-doped with nitrogen, phosphorus, and erbium for the first time. The introduction of the nitrogen and phosphorus atoms into the transition metal increases the d-electron density and contracts the d-band, which leads to a rearranged electronic structure of the MoO2/Mo2N3 heterojunction. The coupling of the rare earth erbium dopant with the valence band of the heterojunction leads to the redistribution of the electron density in the catalyst and promotes covalent interaction with the adsorbed intermediates, thereby optimizing the Gibbs free energy of intermediate adsorption and improving the catalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Not only is an efficient and economical catalyst for electrolytic aquatic hydrogen production provided in this work, but a new synthesis scheme is also proposed for the rational synthesis of homologous core–shell polymetallic nanostructures with broad application prospects.

Impact of erbium on structural, optical, magnetic and photocatalytic performance of Co-Mn nanoferrites

The citrate method was used successfully to synthesize rare earth erbium (Er3+) doped Co-Mn nanoferrites (CME nanoferrites) with the chemical formulation Co0.5Mn0.5ErxFe2−xO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1). Specimens’ X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns ensured the production of a single-phase cubic spinel structure; although, a secondary phase of Er2O3 had been observed at higher Er concentration (x ≥ 0.06). The lattice parameter (a) rose as the Er3+ content in the lattice grew. Average crystallite size, determined by Williamson–Hall method, increased first up to x = 0.06 and then declined at higher values of x. According to FTIR analysis revealed that the spectra included two main absorption bands at ∼600 and 400 cm−1, as well as other bands. The band gap was estimated using UV-Diffuse reflectance (DR) spectroscopy, which ranged between 1.39 and 1.48 eV. The saturation magnetization was first boosted by doping Er3+ till x = 0.02, then decreased as the Er3+ ion concentration rose. Inclusion of erbium ions significantly increased the coercivity from 538 G to 569 G. Photocatalytic effectiveness of CME nanoferrites was examined by measuring Methylene Blue (MB) photocatalytic degradation (PCD) under natural Sunshine. Co0.5Mn0.5Fe2O4 had the highest photocatalytic activity in natural Sunlight (59% after 270 min), followed by Co0.5Mn0.5Er0.1Fe1.9O4 (49% after 270 min). As a result, CME nanoferrites could be considered as a suitable material for water purification.

Interfacial Catalysis Enabled Acetone Sensors Based on Rationally Designed Mesoporous Metal Oxides with Erbium‐Doped WO3 Framework

AbstractThe emerging combination of Internet of Things requires the development of intelligent gas sensor, and semiconductor gas sensors based on metal oxides have been widely applied in industrial production, environmental monitoring, and food safety. Although versatile nanomaterials have been exploited as gas sensitive materials, restricted gas sensing performance including sensitivity, selectivity and stability, is still the fatal problem of practical applications. Herein, inspired by heteratomic doping engineering, unique rare earth erbium (Er)‐doped mesoporous tungsten oxide (Er/mWO3) has been synthesized via one‐step collaborative coassembly strategy, and Er ion‐doped mWO3 exhibited peculiarly hexagonal mesostructure (P63/mmc), tunable specific surface area (58.1–78.3 m2 g–1), uniform mesoporous size and highly crystallized framework with heteroatomic pore wall doping. The introduction of Er can significantly adjust the micro/nano structure and band characteristics, and 1.5 wt% Er‐doped mWO3 displays superior acetone sensing performance, including high response values (107 for 50 ppm), rapid response–recovery dynamics (9/56 s), prominent acetone selectivity, low concentration detection (125 ppb), anti‐humidity property and excellent long‐term stability. Such an excellent sensing performance is mainly attributed to unique interfaces catalytic sites induced by heteroatom interstitial doping. This finding opens a door for the design of smart gas sensors for environmental monitoring and industrial safety.

Fluorescence optimization and ratiometric thermometry of near-infrared emission in erbium/oxygen-doped crystalline silicon

Crystalline Si (c-Si) implanted with rare-earth erbium (Er) might offer a solution to the development of silicon-based optical amplifiers and lasers at communication wavelengths for integrated silicon photonics. However, Er doped (often with oxygen) c-Si traditionally suffers from a strong thermal quenching effect in luminescence, resulting in extremely low luminous efficiency. We recently adopted a deep cooling process to treat Er/O co-doped c-Si samples. After the treatment, the thermal quenching effect is suppressed and the room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) is improved by two orders of magnitude. In this work, we report the PL optimization by tuning parameters including annealing temperature and time, deep cooling rate, O and Er concentration, and their ratio. It was found that the PL performance is maximized at O:Er concentration ratio of ∼2.5 and annealing temperature of 950 °C for 5 min followed by a cooling rate as fast as −500 °C s−1. In addition, the Er/O emission has two spectrally-resolved peaks at 6472 cm−1 and 6510 cm−1 and their intensity ratio is independent of excitation power but a linear function of temperature. This unique property, likely originated from the physics of Er, Si, and O chemical composites formed in the deep cooling process, allows us to develop reliable cryogenic temperature sensors with an accuracy of ±1.0 K in the 4–200 K range.

Impact of erbium (Er) doping on the structural and magnetic properties of Ni-Cu (Ni0.1Cu0.9Fe2O4) nanoferrites

Rare earth erbium (Er) doped spinel Ni-Cu nanoferrites having chemical composition Ni0.1Cu0.9ErxFe2-xO4 (x = 0.00, 0.010, 0.015, 0.020, 0.025 and 0.030) were prepared by standard citrate-gel auto combustion (CGAC) technique. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–visible spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were used to characterize the structural, optical, and magnetic properties of these ferrites. X-ray diffraction spectra clearly revealed that the pure Ni-Cu ferrite shows a tetrahedral distortion due to John Tellar ion (Cu2+) subsequently erbium doping transformed the tetragonal phase in to the cubic spinel phase with minor traces of impurity phase. Using Scherer's equation, the average crystallite size was found to be between 7.39 and 27.78 nm. The average crystallite size (7.39–27.78 nm) obtained from XRD and average grain size (64.84–83.36 nm) measured from FESEM confirmed the nano structure of prepared samples. Energy dispersive analysis X-ray (EDAX) spectra with elemental analysis verified the existence of Ni, Cu, Er, Fe, and O elements without any impurities. Two prominent absorption bands detected in FTIR spectra within the wave number range of 575.54–586.73 cm−1 (υ1) and 370.24–372.53 cm−1 (υ2) indicate the stretching vibrations of Fe3+-O2− complexes in tetrahedral and octahedral sites of spinel structure respectively. TG and DTA techniques were used to analyze the thermal behavior of the composition x = 0.030. It was observed that exhibiting a rapid loss in weight after 900 °C promotes the formation of pure phase nanoferrite. Direct and indirect optical band gap values were computed from UV absorption studies with Tauc plots. The obtained band gap values revealed the semiconducting behavior of the prepared samples. VSM was used to explore the magnetization of samples as a function of field at temperatures of 15 K and 300 K. The maximum saturation magnetization (Ms) was observed for x = 0.030 composition and it was estimated as 31.18 emu/g at 15 K and 26.80 emu/g at 300 K temperatures. The experimental and theoretical values of lattice parameter and room temperature magnetic moment are good agreement with suggested cation distribution.

Effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Er-containing Al–7Si–0.6 Mg alloy by laser powder bed fusion

The Al–7Si–0.6 Mg alloy with added rare earth erbium (Er) was prepared by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology, and the effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties was studied. The addition of Er introduces Al3Er to the molten pool, which can effectively hinder the epitaxial growth of the columnar crystal. The effect of rapid cooling and the addition of Er can also modify eutectic Si particles, resulting in an ultrafine eutectic network cellular structure. Moreover, the as-built samples have an excellent tensile strength exceeding 438 MPa and a ductility of over 8%; furthermore, such excellent mechanical properties are associated with small grains, a continuous Si network, and extremely oversaturated solid solubility. After heat treatment, LPBF-processed alloy samples exhibit superior mechanical properties, especially after direct age treatment, which can mainly be attributed to the precipitation strengthening effect introduced by nanosized precipitates.

Upconversion Luminescence Enhancement In Lanthanide Ions Doped Bismuth Tellurite Glasses

Lanthanide ions doped glasses are studied by researchers for upconversion luminescence. Rare earth doped bismuth tellurite glasses codoped with and without silver nanoparticle were synthesized by melt and quench procedure for the study of enhanced upconversion luminescence. Physical parameters as molar mass, molar volume, and density were evaluated. Amorphous nature of samples was verified by x-ray diffraction. DSC is carried for information of thermal properties. UV-Visible absorption and fluorescence spectra is obtained to get detail information of upconversion luminescence. Upconversion mechanism of rare earth erbium and ytterbium ions discussed. Three prominent upconversion luminescence is observed two in green region and one is in red.

Engineering the doping amount of rare earth element erbium in CdWO4: Influence on the electrochemical performance and the application to the electrochemical detection of bisphenol A

Rare earth elements Er doped CdWO4 (Er-CdWO4) nanorods were successfully prepared. The morphology, crystal structure, chemical environments and electrochemical properties of Er-CdWO4 nanomaterials were regulated by changing the doping amount of Er. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have shown that the introduction of moderate content of Er could optimize the morphology of CdWO4. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results suggested that the larger Er ions partially replaced the Cd ions in CdWO4 nanocrystals and produced favorable lattice gaps and defects around the unit cell. The high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of O 1 s and the enhanced peak intensity in electron spin resonance (EPR) declared that the doping of Er generated more oxygen vacancies in Er-CdWO4. Based on the physico-chemical characterizations, 0.5 wt% Er-CdWO4 was confirmed to be the best electrocatalyst within the tested samples, which exhibited the fastest electron transfer performance and the strongest electrocatalytic capacity to BPA. Taking the low-cost and simply prepared Er-CdWO4 with the optimal content of Er as the electrode modifier, a novel electrochemical sensor (Er-CdWO4/CPE) for BPA has been constructed for the first time, which exhibited the wide linear range from 0.01 to 6 μM and the limited detection of 0.003 μM, respectively. Moreover, satisfactory reproducibility, stability and anti-interference performance were also achieved on Er-CdWO4/CPE. Meanwhile, the proposed sensor successfully realized the determination of BPA spiked in local tap water samples.

Dynamic corrosion mechanical properties of magnesium alloys with Erbium in the chloride ions environment

The X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), weight loss corrosion rate, corrosion residual strength (CRS), and slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) methods were used to study the effects of the addition of rare earth Erbium (Er) on the dynamic corrosion mechanical properties of the AM50 magnesium alloy. The results show that after Er was added, a new phase of Al3Er appeared and the microstructure was refined. The corrosion resistance of rare earth Er addition to the alloy was 0.5% > 1.5% > 1.0% > 0. Furthermore, the corrosion rates decreased in 432 h. The CRS results within 168 h show that the strength after an addition of 0.5% Er was the highest and the decline rate was the smallest. According to the shape of the tensile curve of CRS and the morphology of the tensile fracture, the addition of rare earth Er did not change the fracture form of the alloy, which remained as quasi-cleavage.