Enhanced near-infrared emission from erbium and cerium oxide codoped silica nanocomposite

Er super(3+)-doped CeO sub(2)-SiO sub(2) nanocomposite was successfully fabricated by a sol-gel route. The homogeneous distribution of CeO sub(2) nanocrystals among amorphous silica matrix was evidenced by the X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The incorporation of Er super(3+) ions into CeO sub(2) nanocrystals was revealed by emission spectra and luminescence decay curves. Increasing CeO sub(2) content and raising annealing temperature lead to the enhancement of the 1532 nm Er super(3+) emission, because CeO sub(2) nanocrystals can efficiently sensitize the emission of Er super(3+), provide a low phonon energy environment, and defend them from hydroxyl quenching. It is expected that the investigated nanocomposite might be a promising candidate for optical fiber communication.