NIR luminescence from erbium doped (100−x)SiO2:xZnO powders obtained by soft chemical synthesis

We present the structural and optical results of (100−x)SiO2:xZnO compounds with x=0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100, containing 1 mol% of Er3+ prepared by a simple chemical route. It was evaluated the crystallization effect on the erbium ions emission around 1533 nm due to 4I13/2→4I15/2 transition. Structural analyses using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques showed that the prepared material present crystalline phases, the ZnO hexagonal (Zincite) and Zn2SiO4 rhombohedral. The relative content of crystalline phases as well the optical emissions in the infrared region are dependent on the composition and heat treatments. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed average 5 nm sized Zn2SiO4 nanocrystals homogeneously dispersed into amorphous silica-based matrix. The Er3+ doped Zn2SiO4 crystalline phase are the most promising material to be used in optical system.