Enhanced luminescence in Er3+-doped chalcogenide glass–ceramics based on selenium

•We synthesize infrared transparent Er3+ doped chalcogenide glass based on selenium.•We produce glass–ceramics from this glass.•We study luminescence intensity in regard to crystallization duration.•Increasing crystallinity enhances luminescence intensities of the material.

Rare earth doped glass–ceramics transparent in the infrared region up to 16 μm have been prepared and studied. The enhancement of the emission of Er3+ ions at 1.54 μm with increasing crystallinity was demonstrated in a selenium-based glass–ceramic having a composition of 80GeSe2–20Ga2Se3 + 1000 ppm Er. The optical transmission, microstructure and luminescence properties of a base glass and glass–ceramics were investigated. Luminescence intensities up to 7 times greater were obtained in glass–ceramics in comparison to the base glass. These materials are promising candidates for the production of new laser sources in the mid-infrared region.