Thermal stability and 2.7 μm spectroscopic properties in Er3+ doped tellurite glasses

•Thermal stability enhanced with the addition of GeO2 into tellurite glass.•J-O parameters and radiative properties of Er3+ were calculated.•The lifetime at 2.7 μm was measured to 124±1μs with quantum efficiency of 61.5%.•Emission cross section at 2.7 μm reached 12.75 × 10−21 cm2.

In present paper, the thermal stability and 2.7 μm spectroscopic properties in Er3+ doped tellurite glasses have been investigated by 980 nm laser diode pumping. Thermal analysis indicates that GeO2 modified tellurite glass has better thermal stability and anti-crystallization ability. Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters are calculated and discussed to examine the covalency characteristics based on absorption spectra. The 2.7 μm fluorescence is obtained and the lifetime can reach 124 ± 1 μs with the quantum efficiency of 61.5% in prepared samples. Moreover, higher effective emission bandwidth (136.67 nm), emission cross sections (12.75 × 10−21 cm2) and radiative transition probability (95.66s−1) at 2.7 μm are achieved. In addition, upconversion and near-infrared emission spectra are measured to elucidate energy transfer mechanism of Er3+. The results suggest that the present tellurite glass modified by GeO2 might have promising applications in mid-infrared fiber lasers.

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