Synthesis of Nanosilica Glass Activated by Erbium Ions, Spectroscopic studies

Abstract

Erbium, as optical probe, doped silicate sol-gel glass with
different Er concentrations was formed by wet chemical synthesis
method using ethanol, water and tetraethaylorthosilicate
[Si(OC2H5)4] precursor. Erbium ions were incorporated into silica
sol-gel matrix via dissolution of Erbium chloride solution into the
initial Si(OC2H5)4 precursor sol. Aluminum (Al) as a co-dopant was
added to the final precursor in the form of Aluminum chloride
(AlCl3) solution. The prepared samples were analyzed using atomic
absorption analysis, X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic tests. The
experimental results concerned with the transmission spectra suggest
that the final samples have a good transparency and homogeneity.
Also, the X-ray diffraction test showed that they have amorphous
structure. The absorption and fluorescence spectra, as a function of
Er concentration, were recorded at room temperature. Fluorescence
emission of the 4I13/2→4I15/2 transition at ~ 1.536 μm was observed.
In addition, the high values of peak emission cross-section, which
were calculated as a function of Er concentration, suggest that the Er
in the sol-gel may be favorable as optical material