NIR luminescent Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped SiO2-ZrO2 nanostructured planar and channel waveguides: Optical and structural properties

► Sol-gel high NIR luminescent nanostructured planar and channel waveguides. ► Microstructured channels written by a femtosecond laser etching technique. ► Transparent glass ceramic with rare earth-doped ZrO2 nanocrystals in a silica host. ► Enhanced NIR luminescence, efficient energy transfer from the Yb3+ to the Er3+ ion. ► New planar channel waveguides to be applied as EDWA in the C telecommunication band.