Effect of hydroxyl groups in erbium-doped tellurite- and bismuth-based glasses

Tellurite- and bismuth-based glasses with the composition of TeO2–B2O3–GeO2–Na2O–Er2O3 and Bi2O3–B2O3–GeO2–Na2O–Er2O3, respectively, were prepared by the conventional high-temperature melt-quenching method. Infrared spectra were measured in order to investigate the effects of glass composition and bubbling oxygen treatment on the vibration absorptions of OH groups. The constants KOH–Er for Er3+ in tellurite- and bismuth-based glasses, which represent the interaction strength between Er3+ and OH groups in the case of energy migration were calculated, and the effects of OH groups upon the fluorescence lifetimes of 4I13/2 level and the emission intensities at 1.5 μm band of Er3+ in both glasses were investigated and compared in detail under different oxygen bubbling time.