Growth, thermal and polarized spectral properties of Er3+-doped Li3Ba2La3(MoO4)8 crystal

Er3+:Li3Ba2La3(MoO4)8 crystal has been grown by the top seeded solution growth method (TSSG). The principal coefficients of thermal expansion along a, b and c axes were precisely measured to be 1.69 × 10−5, 1.85 × 10−5 and 1.96 × 10−5 K−1, respectively. The specific heat value was 0.42 J/g K at 325 K. The polarized spectral properties of Er3+:Li3Ba2La3(MoO4)8 crystal were investigated and the spectroscopic parameters were calculated and analyzed based on the Judd–Ofelt theory. The emission cross-sections at 1535 nm were determined to be 10.6 × 10−21 cm2, 12.0 × 10−21 cm2, and 11.7 × 10−21 cm2 for E||b, E||D1 and E||D2, respectively. Two up-conversion fluorescence bands around 530 and 550 nm were observed with 977 nm excitation, and the possible up-conversion mechanisms were proposed.