Broadband NIR emission from rare earth doped-SiO2-Nb2O5 and SiO2-Ta2O5 nanocomposites

The rising demand for more efficient telecommunication networks that can carry larger data volume is currently one of the most pressing technological challenges. In this sense, developing new materials to obtain NIR broadband emission is an urgent matter. We have successfully prepared Tm3+/Yb3+ co-doped 70SiO2-30Nb2O5 and 70SiO2-30Ta2O5 (mol%) nanocomposites by the sol-gel method. The Tm3+/Yb3+ co-doped 70SiO2-30Nb2O5 and 70SiO2-30Ta2O5 nanocomposites displayed intense broad emission that extends from 1.6 to 2.1 µm, with maximum at 1.8 µm. The bandwidth values lied around 230 or 260 nm depending on the crystalline phase. Increasing rare earth content elicited discrete quenching, which attests to good rare earth solubility and distribution within the hosts. The luminescence results are outstanding in terms of silicate hosts and point to the potential application of these materials in optical amplifiers, remote sensing, and LIDAR systems.