2 μm fluorescence of Ho3+:5I7 → 5I8 transition sensitized by Er3+ in tellurite germanate glasses

•Er3+/Ho3+ co-doped tellurite germanate glass were prepared.•The thermal stability, spectra properties and energy transfer mechanisms were investigated.•The prepared glass possessed good stability.•The FWHM of tellurite germanate glass reached as high as 146 nm.•The stimulate emission cross-sections were calculated and discussed.

This paper investigated the mid-infrared luminescence properties of Er3+/Ho3+ co-doped tellurite germanate glass at 2 μm pumped by 980 nm. Thermal stability of the system, absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra of the Er3+/Ho3+ co-doped glass sample were measured. Besides, the absorption spectra of the Ho3+ singly doped sample was measured. According to the measured absorption spectra and the Judd–Ofelt theory, the Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters Ωt (t = 2, 4, 6), spontaneous radiative transition probability, branching ratio and lifetime of Ho3+ were calculated. And the upconversion emission in Er3+ doped and Er3+/Ho3+ co-doped tellurite germanate glasses pumped by 980 nm have been investigated. Then the spectroscopic properties and possible energy transfer mechanisms between Ho3+ and Er3+ ions were discussed in detail. Meanwhile, the FWHM (146 nm), σepeak × FWHM (659.92 cm3) and emission cross section (4.52 × 10−21 cm2) of 5I8 → 5I7 transition of Ho3+ were obtained, respectively. The results indicate that Er3+/Ho3+ co-doped tellurite germanate glass is a promising host material for 2 μm solid laser.

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