Abstract
We present a versatile sol–gel approach for low-phonon nanocrystalline (HoxY1−x)2Ti2O7, x = <0.01, 0.40> exhibiting luminescence within the spectral range 2000–3000 nm. The nanocrystalline structure of (HoxY1−x)2Ti2O7 was studied and the effect of the composition and phonon energy on the luminescence properties was evaluated. Regular distribution of Ho3+ ions inside the pyrochlore crystal lattice was proved leading to a regular increase of the unit cell parameter. The luminescence intensity recorded at 2025 nm reached a maximum for the composition (Ho0.03Y0.96)2Ti2O7. The radiative lifetime recorded at 2025 nm regularly decreased with increasing content of Ho3+ ions inside the pyrochlore lattice from 6.32 to 0.22 ms. The phonon energy of the samples was smaller than 700 cm−1 allowing the luminescence spectral range to be extended up to 2900 nm. Further tailoring of the chemical composition can improve the emission at 2860 nm providing a promising high thermally and chemically stable alternative to conventional fluoride or chalcogenide glasses.
Graphical Abstract
Highlights
-
We present a versatile sol–gel approach to preparing (HoxY1−x)2Ti2O7 x = <0.01, 0.40>.
-
The content of Ho3+ ions in the lattice has a major impact on the luminescence properties.
-
The optimal content of Ho3+ ions to maximize the luminescence intensity is identified.
-
Low phonon energy of (HoxY1−x)2Ti2O7 allows the radiative transition at 2860 nm to be activated.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fuentes AF, Boulallya K, Maczka M, Hanuza J, Amador U (2005) Synthesis of disordered pyrochlores, A(2)Ti(2)O(7) (A = Y, Gd and Dy), by mechanical milling of constituent oxides. Solid State Sci 7(4 Apr):343–353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2005.01.002
Bramwell ST, Gingras MJP (2001) Spin ice state in frustrated magnetic pyrochlore materials. Science 294(5546 Nov):1495–1501. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1064761
Jenouvrier P, Fick J, Audier M, Langlet M (2004) Microstructure and photoluminescence properties of sol–gel Y2−xErxTi2O7 thin films. Opt Mater 27(2):131–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2004.02.023
Singh BP, Parchur AK, Singh RK, Ansari AA, Singh P, Rai SB (2013) Structural and up-conversion properties of Er3+ and Yb3+ co-doped Y2Ti2O7 phosphors. Phys Chem Chem Phys 15(10):3480–3489. https://doi.org/10.1039/c2cp44195k
Guo Y, Wang D, Zhao X, Wang F (2016) Fabrication, microstructure and upconversion luminescence of Yb3+/Ln(3+) (Ln=Ho, Er, Tm) co-doped Y2Ti2O7 ceramics. Mater Res Bull 73(Jan):84–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2015.08.033
Vytykacova S et al. (2018) Sol-gel route to highly transparent (Ho0.05Y0.95)(2)Ti2O7 thin films for active optical components operating at 2 μm. Opt Mater Express 78:415–420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2018.02.049
Jackson SD (2012) Towards high-power mid-infrared emission from a fibre laser. Nat Photon 6(7 Jul):423–431. https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2012.149
Richardson DJ, Nilsson J, Clarkson WA (2010) High power fiber lasers: current status and future perspectives. J Opt Soc Am B 27(11 Nov):B63–B92
Tao GM et al. (2015) Infrared fibers. Adv Opt Photon 7(2 Jun):379–458. https://doi.org/10.1364/aop.7.000379
Varak P, Nekvindova P, Baborak J, Oswald J (2022) Near-infrared photoluminescence properties of Er/Yb- and Ho/Yb-doped multicomponent silicate glass—The role of GeO2, Al2O3 and ZnO, J Non-Crystal Solids, 582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2022.121457.
Todorov F et al. (2020) Active Optical Fibers and Components for Fiber Lasers Emitting in the 2-μm Spectral Range. Materials 13(22 Nov):5177. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13225177
Zhang W et al. (2015) Enhanced 2-5 μm emission in Ho3+/Yb3+ codoped halide modified transparent tellurite glasses. Spectrochim Acta Mol Biomol Spectr 134(Jan):388–398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2014.06.010
Kochanowicz M et al. (2019) Tm3+/Ho3+ co-doped germanate glass and double-clad optical fiber for broadband emission and lasing above 2 μm. Opt Mater Express 9(3 Mar):1450–1458. https://doi.org/10.1364/OME.9.001450
Florez A, Oliveira SL, Flórez M, Gómez LA, Nunes LAO (2006) Spectroscopic characterization of Ho3+ ion-doped fluoride glass. J Alloys Compounds 418(1 Jul):238–242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2005.12.088
Walsh BM, Lee HR, Barnes NP (2016) Mid infrared lasers for remote sensing applications. J Luminescence 169(Jan):400–405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlumin.2015.03.004
Baltrusaitis J, Schuttlefield J, Jensen JH, Grassian VH (2007) FTIR spectroscopy combined with quantum chemical calculations to investigate adsorbed nitrate on aluminium oxide surfaces in the presence and absence of co-adsorbed water. Phys Chem Chem Phys 9(36):4970–4980. https://doi.org/10.1039/b705189a
Starukh G, Toscani S, Boursicot S, Spanhel L (2007) Photoactivity of sol-gel derived nitridated ZnxTiyOz-films. Zeitschrift Fur Physikalische Chem Int J Res Phys Chem Chem Phys 221(3):349–360. https://doi.org/10.1524/zpch.2007.221.3.349
Boyer D, Bertrand-Chadeyron G, Mahiou R (2004) Structural and optical characterizations of YAG: Eu3+ elaborated by the sol-gel process. Opt Mater 26(2 Jul):101–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2003.11.005
Mrazek J et al. (2015) Sol-gel synthesis and crystallization kinetics of dysprosium-titanate Dy2Ti2O7 for photonic applications. Mater Chem Phys 168(Nov):159–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2015.11.015
Mrazek J, Surynek M, Bakardjieva S, Bursik J, Kasik I (2014) Synthesis and crystallization mechanism of europium-titanate Eu2Ti2O7. J Cryst Growth 391(Apr):25–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2013.12.045
Milicevic B, Kuzman S, Porobic SJ, Marinovic-Cincovic M, Dramicanin MD (2017) Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of the heavy-group lanthanide dititanates. Opt Mater 74(Dec):86–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2017.03.058
Maczka M et al. (2009) Temperature-dependent studies of the geometrically frustrated pyrochlores Ho2Ti2O7 and Dy2Ti2O7. Phys Rev B 79(21 Jun):537–544. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.79.214437
Ikesue A, Aung YL (2008) Ceramic laser materials. Nat Photon 2(12 Dec):721–727. https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2008.243
Schweizer T, Samson B, Hector J, Brocklesby W, Hewak D, Payne D (1999) Infrared emission from holmium doped gallium lanthanum sulphide glass. Infrared Phys Technol 40(4 Aug):329–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1350-4495(98)00060-7
Peng B, Izumitani T (1995) Optical properties, fluorescence mechanisms and energy transfer in Tm3+, Ho3+ and Tm3+ -Ho3+ doped near-infrared laser glasses, sensitized by Yb3+. Opt Mater 4(6 Oct):797–810. https://doi.org/10.1016/0925-3467(95)00032-1
Wang SF et al. (2013) Transparent ceramics: Processing, materials and applications. Prog Solid State Chem 41(1–2 May):20–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progsolidstchem.2012.12.002
Wang Z, Zhou G, Jiang D, Wang S (2018) Recent development of A(2)B(2)O(7) system transparent ceramics. J Adv Ceramics 7(4 Dec):289–306. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-018-0287-z
Barton I, Matejec V, Mrazek J, Podrazky O, Matousek J (2017) Preparation of Bragg mirrors on silica optical fibers and inner walls of silica capillaries by employing the sol-gel method, and titanium and silicon alkoxides. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 81(3 Mar):867–879. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-016-4222-x
Matrosova AS et al. 2021 Formation of Gd2O3:Nd3+nanocrystals in silica microcapillary preforms and hollow-core anti-resonant optical fibers, Opt Fiber Technol, 65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yofte.2021.102547.
Matejec V et al. (2006) Microstructure fibers for gas detection. Mater Sci Eng C Biomimetic Supramol Syst 26(2–3 Mar):317–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2005.10.043.
Kasik I et al. (2009) Fiber-optic detection of chlorine in water. Sensors Actuat B Chem 139(1 May):139–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2008.10.064
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation, contract N° 22-17604S. XRD work was supported by the Institute of Geology Research Plan RVO67985831.
Author contributions
All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation was performed by SK and JM. Thermal analysis and FT-IR structural characterization were performed by IB. EDS analyses were performed by IB and YB. Luminescence measurements were performed by SK, PV. XRD analysis was performed by RS. TEM analyses were performed by JB. The first draft of the paper was written by JM and all authors commented on previous versions of the paper. All authors read and approved the final paper.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary information
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Mrázek, J., Kamrádková, S., Buršík, J. et al. Nanocrystalline (HoxY1−x)2Ti2O7 luminophores for short- and mid-infrared lasers. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 107, 320–328 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06113-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06113-x