Study of photoluminescence quenching in Er3+-doped tellurite glasses

Erbium-doped tellurite glasses (TeO2-ZnO-Na2O3: Er3+ (TZNE)) were elaborated from the melt-quenching method. Various spectroscopic parameters were obtained to evaluate their dependence and the potential of the samples as a laser material in the eye-safe laser wavelength (1.53 μm) as a function of the Er3+ concentration. The dependence of infrared photoluminescence (PL) spectra on doping concentration shows a quenching of the PL intensity for Er3+ concentration above 2 mol%. Such dependence is discussed in terms of interactions between Er3+ ions and OH− content. FTIR spectra were measured in order to calculate the exact content of OH− groups in samples. It was found that PL quenching with Er concentration in the tellurite glass is independent of OH− content. Stimulated cross-section at 1.53 μm was determined and was discussed using the McCumber theory.