Super broadband near-infrared emission and energy transfer in Nd–Bi–Er co-doped transparent silicate glass-ceramics

Broadband NIR emission spectra of SG-0Er0Nd2Bi, SG-0.4Er0Nd0Bi, SG-0Er0.5Nd0Bi and SG-0.4Er0.5Nd2Bi transparent glass-ceramics samples. [Display omitted] •Broadband NIR emission of Nd–Bi–Er co-doped transparent glass-ceramics was investigated.•A NIR broadband with an FWHM of 600 nm which covered the whole O, E, S, C and L bands was observed.•Mechanism of energy transfer between Bi-related and Er3+, Nd3+ was proposed.•The studied material could provide potential EDFA application in a WDM system. Super broadband NIR (near-infrared) emission and energy transfer of Nd–Bi–Er co-doped transparent silicate glass-ceramics under excitation 808 nm laser diode were investigated. Super broadband NIR emission in Nd–Bi–Er co-doped extending from 1000 to 1600 nm with a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 600 nm were observed. This result is due to the overlapping NIR emission band centered at 1275 nm (ES1 → GS) of Bi-related and NIR emission band centered at 1063 nm (4F3/2 → 4I11/2) of Nd3+ as well as NIR emission spectral band centered at 1546 nm (4I13/2 → 4I15/2) of Er3+. At the same time, the energy transfer processes between Bi-related, Nd3+ and Er3+ were also discussed and proposed.