Analysis of the optical properties of Er3+-doped strontium barium niobate nanocrystals using time-resolved laser spectroscopy

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Vol. 99; no. 4; pp. 771 - 776
• Main Authors: Kowalska, D., Haro-González, P., Martín, I. R., Cáceres, J. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-06-2010; Springer
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Machines; Manufacturing; Nanocrystals and nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of low-dimensional, mesoscopic, and nanoscale materials and structures; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Nanocrystalline Phase; Excited State Absorption; Glass Ceramic; Strontium Barium; Glassy Phase; Impurity density; Doping; Photoluminescence; Glass; Fluorescence; Frequency conversion; Liquid state quenching; XRD; Time resolved spectra; Heat treatments; Luminescence decay; Time dependence; Barium strontium niobate; Erbium additions; Nanocrystal; Barium Strontium Niobates Mixed; Strontium bismuth niobate
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-010-5716-y

This paper reports the results obtained in strontium barium niobate (SBN) nanocrystals in glasses doped with 1, 2.5 and 5 mol% of Er
3+
ions. The melt-quenching method was applied to fabricate the glasses with composition SrO–BaO–Nb
2
O
5
–B
2
O
3
and further thermal treatment was used to obtain glass ceramic samples from the glass precursor. X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the formation of SBN nanocrystals with an average size of about 50 nm in diameter. Time-resolved fluorescence spectra for the emission of Er
3+
ions at 1550 nm have been analyzed in order to confirm the incorporation of the Er
3+
ions into the nanocrystals. Green frequency upconversion emission under excitation at 975 nm coming from the ions in the nanocrystals has been obtained. This intense upconversion is about a factor of 500 higher than that obtained from the ions which reside in the glassy phase. Moreover, temporal evolution studies have been carried out with the purpose of determining the involved upconversion mechanism and the importance of these processes as a source of losses for the optical amplification at 1550 nm.