Enhanced 1.47 μm emission from Tm3 + ions in rare-earth co-doped oxyfluoride glass-ceramics

•Y3 + ions were co-doped to precipitated Tm3 + ion incorporated fluoride nanocrystals.•Effective concentration of Tm3 + ions in fluoride nanocrystals was reduced.•Efficient 1.47 μm emission was achieved by suppressing the cross relaxation.•The 1.47 μm emission was further enhanced through Eu3 +/Tb3 + ion co-doping.

In this work, optical properties of Tm3 + ion doped oxyfluoride glasses and glass-ceramics were investigated. Both X-ray diffraction patterns and absorption spectra confirmed that the formation of Tm3 + ion doped fluoride nanocrystals was precipitated in the glass-ceramics with the Y3 + ions as the nucleation agents. For the Tm3 +/Y3 + co-doped specimens, effective concentration of Tm3 + ions in the fluoride nanocrystals was reduced and the cross relaxation 3H4+3H6 → 3F4+3F4 process was significantly suppressed. As a result, S-band emission at 1.47 μm was greatly enhanced. Additional doping of these specimens with Eu3 + and Tb3 + ions led to the depopulation of Tm3 +:3F4 level, and resulted in further enhanced 1.47 μm emission from Tm3 +: 3H4 level.