Spectroscopic Study of Er3+ doped Borate Glass System for Green Emission Device, NIR Laser, and Optical Amplifier Applications

Abstract

Abstract The 10BaO–20ZnO–20LiF-(50-x)B2O3-xEr2O3 (x\xa0=\xa00, 0.1, 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0\xa0mol %) glass system was studied for green emission device, NIR laser, and optical amplifier applications. The impact of Er3+ doping was assessed through structural, optical, and thermal properties. The Er3+ ions behaved as network modifiers and decreased the network rigidity by the transformation of [BO4] → [BO3] and Non-Bridging Oxygens. This was consistent with the decrease in the glass transition temperature. Ten absorption peaks of Er3+ ion equivalent to transitions from 4I15/2 to various excited levels were quantified through their oscillator strengths. Through broadband impedance spectroscopy, the insulating property of the glass system was authenticated by the persistence of dc-conductivity in the order of 10−10 Scm−1 up to 523\xa0K. With 378\xa0nm excitation, a violet emission (2H9/2 → 4I15/2) and two intense green emissions (2H11/2 → 4I15/2, 4S3/2 → 4I15/2) were noticed. The NIR emission (4I13/2 → 4I15/2) was observed at 1531\xa0nm with 378 and 980\xa0nm excitations and the corresponding decay curves were recorded. The Inokuti-Hirayama model indicated the increase in the energy transfer and reduction in critical distance amid the Er3+ ions with doping leading to energy migration through cross-relaxations and lifetime quenching. The laser parameters were determined from Fuchtbauer-Ladenburg theory. The color coordinates of the samples were lying in the green region, with purity >89% and CCT >6000\xa0K. The gain coefficient from McCumber theory was positive for a population inversion >50%, with a wide gain between 1460 and 1565\xa0nm, extending the application of the glass system as an optical amplifier in the S\xa0+\xa0C communication window.