Synthesis of nanosilica glass activated by erbium ions : spectroscopic studies

الملخص EN

Erbium, as optical probe, doped silicate sol-gel glass with different Er concentrations was formed by wet chemical synthesis method using ethanol, water and tetraethaylorthosilicate [Si(OC2H5)4] precursor.

Erbium ions were incorporated into silica sol-gel matrix via dissolution of Erbium chloride solution into the initial Si(OC2H5)4 precursor sol.

Aluminum (Al) as a co-dopant was added to the final precursor in the form of Aluminum chloride (AlCl3) solution.

The prepared samples were analyzed using atomic absorption analysis, X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic tests.

The experimental results concerned with the transmission spectra suggest that the final samples have a good transparency and homogeneity.

Also, the X-ray diffraction test showed that they have amorphous structure.

The absorption and fluorescence spectra, as a function of Er concentration, were recorded at room temperature.

Fluorescence emission of the 4I13/2→4I15/2 transition at ~ 1.536 μm was observed.

In addition, the high values of peak emission cross-section, which were calculated as a function of Er concentration, suggest that the Er in the sol-gel may be favorable as optical material.