Hostname: page-component-6b989bf9dc-94dtm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-10T21:30:58.479Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Er3+-Doped Silica and Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Silica Gels

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

B. T. Stone
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706
K. L. Bray
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706
Get access

Abstract

The fluorescence properties of Er3+ in densified sol-gel silica and alkyl-modified silicates are presented. In sol-gel silica, strong infrared (4I13/24I15/2) emission was observed over a wide range of Er3+ concentrations. The effect of metal ion co-dopants, which are known to inhibit clustering of Eu3+ in sol-gel silica, on Er3+ fluorescence are also considered. The co-dopants La3+, Y3+, Yb3+, and Al3+ are increasingly more effective at inhibiting Er3+ clustering and promoting a more uniform spatial distribution of Er3+ ions. Lifetime studies were also conducted to assess the extent of hydroxyl quenching.

Organic/inorganic hybrid silica gels are expected to contain a lower amount of water than simple sol-gel silica gels and should be better hosts for rare earth ions. Er3+-doped hybrid organic/inorganic gels were prepared using Si(OC2H5)4 and CH3Si(OC2H5)3, (CH3)2Si(OC2H5)2 or C2H5Si(OC 2H5)3. Er3+ fluorescence spectra and lifetime studies of these gels are presented and compared to simple Er3+-doped sol-gel silica. The effect of organic modification on Er3+ clustering and hydroxyl retention are discussed. Er3+ upconversion properties are also discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Hanna, D.C., in Solid State Lasers: New Developments and Applications, edited by Inguscio, M. and Wallenstein, R. (Plenum Press, New York, 1993), p. 231.Google Scholar
2. DiGiovanni, D.J., in Optical Waveguide Materials, edited by Broer, M.M., Sigel, G.J. Jr., Kersten, R.T. and Kawazoe, H. (Mater. Res. Soc. Proc. 244, Pittsburgh, PA, 1992), pp. 135142.Google Scholar
3. Gapontsev, V.P., Matitsin, S.M., Isineev, A.A. and Kravchenko, V.B., Optics and Laser Tech. 14, 189 (1982).Google Scholar
4. Ainslie, B.J., J. Lightwave Tech. 9, 220 (1991).Google Scholar
5. Snitzer, E. and Woodcock, R., Appl. Phys. Lett. 6, 45 (1965).Google Scholar
6. Winburn, D.C., Practical Laser Safety, (Marcel Dekker, New York, 1985), p. 14.Google Scholar
7. Miya, T., Terunuma, Y., Hosaka, T. and Miyashita, T., Electron. Lett. 15, 106 (1979).Google Scholar
8. JL. Jackel, Yi-Yan, A., Vogel, E.M., Von Lehmen, A., Johnson, J.J. and Snitzer, E., Appl. Opt. 31, 3390 (1992).Google Scholar
9. Mackenzie, J.D., J. Non-Cryst. Solids 48, 1 (1982).Google Scholar
10. Berry, A.J. and King, T.A., J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 22, 1419 (1989).Google Scholar
11. Phalippou, J., Woignier, T. and Zarzycki, J., in Ultrastructure Processing of Ceramics. Glasses and Composites, edited by Hench, L.L. and Ulrich, D.R. (Wiley, New York, 1984), p. 70.Google Scholar
12. Pope, E.J.A. and Mackenzie, J.D., J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 76, 1325 (1993).Google Scholar
13. Fujiyama, T., Hori, M. and Sasaki, M., J. Non-Cryst. Solids 121, 273 (1990).Google Scholar
14. Quimby, R.S., Miniscalco, W.J. and Thompson, B., J. Appl. Phys. 76, 4472 (1994).Google Scholar
15. Nilsson, J., Blixt, P., Jaskorzynska, B. and Babonas, J., J. Lightwave Tech. 13, 341 (1995).Google Scholar
16. Lochhead, M.J. and Bray, K.L., Chem. Mat. 7, 572 (1995).Google Scholar
17. Zhang, Z., Tanigami, Y., Terai, R. and Wakabayashi, H., J. Non-Cryst. Solids 189, 212 (1995).Google Scholar
18. Babonneau, F., Bois, L. and Livage, J., J. Non-Cryst. Solids 147&148, 280 (1992).Google Scholar
19. Stone, B.T. and Bray, K.L., J. Non-Cryst. Solids, in press.Google Scholar