Thermal, Up-Conversion and Near-Infrared Luminescence studies of Erbium ions doped Alkaline-Earth Boro Tellurite glasses

The Alkaline-Earth Boro Tellurite (AEBT) glasses doped with different concentrations of Erbium (Er3+) ions were prepared by sudden melt quenching technique. The prepared samples were characterized by optical absorption, visible, Up-Conversion (UC), near-infrared (NIR) luminescence and luminescence decay to understand their luminescence properties. The Judd-Ofelt (J-O) intensity parameters (Ωλ, λ = 2, 4, 6) were calculated from the absorption spectra. Different radiative properties such as total radiative transition probability (AT), radiative lifetime (τR), radiative branching ratios (βR), stimulated emission cross-section (σse), effective bandwidth (Δλp), gain bandwidth (σse x Δλp) and optical gain (σse x τR) for Er3+ ions in the titled glasses were estimated. The Decay spectral curves for the 4I13/2 level of Er3+ ions in AEBT glasses were recorded under 980 nm excitation for 1574 nm emission. The obtained results reveal that the titled glasses are suitable for the optical devices like solid state lasers and fiber amplifiers. [Display omitted] •The AEBT glasses doped with different concentrations of Er3+ ions were prepared by conventional melt quenching technique.•The Judd-Ofelt theory applied to the absorption spectral features reveals the nature of bonding between Er–O as covalent.•The NIR emission in the titled glasses at around 1574 nm wavelength has applications in NIR lasers.•The gain cross-section for AEBTEr1.0 glass is flat for the population inversion above 40% and quite suitable for EDFA in two optical communication bands C and L.