Effect of the OH Groups on Spectroscopic Parameters of the Er3+-Doped Glasses

In this work, the PAN, PANB, PANK, and SNAB glass matrices with nominal compositions 60P 2 0 5 .10Al 2 O 3 .30Na 2 O, 60P 2 0 5 .10Al 2 O 3 .15Na 2 O.15BaO, 40P 2 O 5 .20Al 2 O 3 .35Na 2 O.5K 2 O, and 40SiO 2 .30Na 2 CO 3 .1Al 2 O 3 .29B 2 O 3 (mol%), respectively, doped with Er 3+ ions, were studied. To determine the Er 3+ spectroscopic properties in these matrices, the optical absorption, luminescence, and experimental lifetime were measured, and based on the obtained data, the Judd-Ofelt theory was applied. The experimental lifetime and quantum efficiency of the 4 I 13/2 → 4 I 15/2 transition were analyzed as a function of the Er 3+ concentration. Among the studied samples, the phosphate glass PANK presents the higher lifetime (~ 8.8 ms) and quantum efficiency (~ 88%), due to the small hydroxyl content.