Infrared luminescence in Er3+:Yb3Al5O12 bulk ceramics prepared by sol–gel method

Erbium doped and pure ytterbium aluminium garnet (YbAG, Yb3Al5O12) bulk ceramics were successfully prepared by a chelating sol–gel route based on the polyesterification of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) with triethanolamine (TEA). The gel decomposition and phase formation in precursor powders were studied using XRD and TG/DTA. Amorphous precursor was directly converted to YbAG phase after calcinations at 800 °C. The influence of intermediate grinding on microstructure and luminescent properties was investigated. The discrete luminescence bands of the 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 transition were observed in the infrared emission spectra of erbium doped samples. The lifetime of luminescence at 1530 nm was 2.82 ms and 1.82 ms for the doped samples. This may be attributed to the different efficiency of surface recombination channel, caused by different grain size distribution. Prepared samples are suitable as a standard for photoluminescence measuring of Er-doped YbAG thin films.