Er3+-doped germanate glasses for active waveguides prepared by Ag+/K+ ↔ Na+ ion-exchange

Planar waveguides were prepared by Ag+/K+ ↔ Na+ ion-exchange on Er+3-doped GeO2–ZnO–Na2O–Li2O glasses obtained by a melting–casting method. Optical parameters of the waveguides were measured at 543.5, 632.8, and 1550 nm by m-line technique as a function of the Ag+ ion-exchange time. The optimized planar waveguides show an effective diffusion depth (d) of 2.95 μm and well confined propagating TE0 and TM0 modes at 1550 nm. Spectroscopic properties as photoluminescence emission and emission decay time were evaluated for the erbium-doped planar waveguide, indicating that Ag+ ↔ Na+ ion-exchange enhance the photoluminescence emissions in the green and infrared regions from erbium ions. The glass system studied is promising to be applied as optical amplifiers in the C-telecom band. Green emission sensitized by Ag+ was also observed.