Ce(3+)/Yb(3+)/Er(3+) triply doped bismuth borosilicate glass: a potential fiber material for broadband near-infrared fiber amplifiers

Broadband Near-Infrared Luminescence in Lead Germanate Glass Triply Doped with Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3

This paper deals with broadband near-infrared luminescence properties of lead germanate glass triply doped with Yb³⁺/Er³⁺/Tm³⁺. Samples were excited at 800 nm and 975 nm. Their emission intensities and lifetimes depend significantly on Er³⁺ and Tm³⁺ concentrations. For samples excited at 800 nm, broadband emissions corresponding to the overlapped ³H₄ → ³F₄ (Tm³⁺) and ⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 (Er³⁺) transitions centered at 1.45 µm and 1.5 µm was identified. Measurements of decay curves confirm reduction of ³H₄ (Tm³⁺), ²F_5/2 (Yb³⁺) and ⁴I_13/2 (Er³⁺) luminescence lifetimes and the presence of energy-transfer processes. The maximal spectral bandwidth equal to 269 nm for the ³F₄ → ³H₆ transition of Tm³⁺ suggests that our glass co-doped with Yb³⁺/Er³⁺/Tm³⁺ is a good candidate for broadband near-infrared emission. The energy transfer from ⁴I_13/2 (Er³⁺) to ³F₄ (Tm³⁺) and cross-relaxation processes are responsible for the enhancement of broadband luminescence near 1.8 µm attributed to the ³F₄ → ³H₆ transition of thulium ions in lead germanate glass under excitation of Yb³⁺ ions at 975 nm.

Advances in engineering near-infrared luminescent materials

Near-infrared (NIR) luminescent materials have emerged as a growing field of interest, particularly for imaging and optics applications in biology, chemistry, and physics. However, the development of materials for this and other use cases has been hindered by a range of issues that prevents their widespread use beyond benchtop research. This review explores emerging trends in some of the most promising NIR materials and their applications. In particular, we focus on how a more comprehensive understanding of intrinsic NIR material properties might allow researchers to better leverage these traits for innovative and robust applications in biological and physical sciences.

Structural and Photoluminescence Investigations of Tb3+/Eu3+ Co-Doped Silicate Sol-Gel Glass-Ceramics Containing CaF2 Nanocrystals

In this work, the series of Tb3+/Eu3+ co-doped xerogels and derivative glass-ceramics containing CaF2 nanocrystals were prepared and characterized. The in situ formation of fluoride crystals was verified by an X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The studies of the Tb3+/Eu3+ energy transfer (ET) process were performed based on excitation and emission spectra along with luminescence decay analysis. According to emission spectra recorded under near-ultraviolet (NUV) excitation (351 nm, 7F6 → 5L9 transition of Tb3+), the mutual coexistence of the 5D4 → 7FJ (J = 6-3) (Tb3+) and the 5D0 → 7FJ (J = 0-4) (Eu3+) luminescence bands was clearly observed. The co-doping also resulted in gradual shortening of a lifetime from the 5D4 state of Tb3+ ions, and the ET efficiencies were varied from ηET = 11.9% (Tb3+:Eu3+ = 1:0.5) to ηET = 22.9% (Tb3+:Eu3+ = 1:2) for xerogels, and from ηET = 25.7% (Tb3+:Eu3+ = 1:0.5) up to ηET = 67.4% (Tb3+:Eu3+ = 1:2) for glass-ceramics. Performed decay analysis from the 5D0 (Eu3+) and the 5D4 (Tb3+) state revealed a correlation with the change in Tb3+-Eu3+ and Eu3+-Eu3+ interionic distances resulting from both the variable Tb3+:Eu3+ molar ratio and their partial segregation in CaF2 nanophase.

Fluoroindate glasses co-doped with Pr3+/Er3+ for near-infrared luminescence applications

Fluoroindate glasses co-doped with Pr³⁺/Er³⁺ ions were synthesized and their near-infrared luminescence properties have been examined under selective excitation wavelengths. For the Pr³⁺/Er³⁺ co-doped glass samples several radiative and nonradiative relaxation channels and their mechanisms are proposed under direct excitation of Pr³⁺ and/or Er³⁺. The energy transfer processes between Pr³⁺ and Er³⁺ ions in fluoroindate glasses were identified. In particular, broadband near-infrared luminescence (FWHM = 278 nm) associated to the ¹G₄ → ³H₅ (Pr³⁺), ¹D₂ → ¹G₄ (Pr³⁺) and ⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 (Er³⁺) transitions of rare earth ions in fluoroindate glass is successfully observed under direct excitation at 483 nm. Near-infrared luminescence spectra and their decays for glass samples co-doped with Pr³⁺/Er³⁺ are compared to the experimental results obtained for fluoroindate glasses singly doped with rare earth ions.

Ultra-broadband Optical Gain Engineering in Solution-processed QD-SOA Based on Superimposed Quantum Structure

In this work, the optical gain engineering of an ultra-broadband InGaAs/AlAs solution-processed quantum dot (QD) semiconductor optical amplifier using superimposed quantum structure is investigated. The basic unit in the proposed structure (QDs) is designed and fabricated using solution-processed methods with considerable cost-effectiveness, fabrication ease, and QDs size tunability up to various limits (0.1 nm up to the desired values), considering suitable synthesis methods. Increasing the number of QDs, the device can span more than 1.02 μm (O, C, S, and L bands) using only one type of material for all QDs, and is not restricted to this limit in case of using more QD groups. Also, it can manipulate the optical gain peak value, spectral coverage, and resonant energy for customized optical windows, among which 1.31 μm and 1.55 μm are simulated as widely-applicable cases for model validation. This makes the device a prominent candidate for ultra-wide-bandwidth and also customized-gain applications in general. Variation impact of homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadenings, injection current and number of QD groups on optical gain are explained in detail. Besides proposing a design procedure for implementation of an ultra-broadband optical gain using superimposed QDs in solution-processed technology, the proposed gain engineering idea using this technology provides practically infinite bandwidth and an easy way to realize. By introducing this idea, one more step is actually taken to approach the effectiveness of solution process technology.

Broadband multicolor upconversion from Yb3+-Mn2+ codoped fluorosilicate glasses and transparent glass ceramics

In contrast to well-known upconversion (UC) emission from Yb³⁺-Mn²⁺-codoped crystal, a room-temperature intense broadband UC phenomenon was first observed in both Yb³⁺-Mn²⁺-codoped fluorosilicate glasses and transparent glass ceramics under 980 nm pumping. The obtained photoluminescence ranged from yellow to white to blue. We attributed this effect to the cooperative UC of Yb³⁺ and to the formation of Yb³⁺-Mn²⁺ pairs. After heat treatment, KZnF₃ nanocrystals appeared in the glass matrix, as identified by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, and emission intensity increased 45 times. We believe that Yb³⁺-Mn²⁺-codoped glasses and glass ceramics show great potential as materials for multicolor displays.