Open AccessHighly efficient near-infrared emission in Er^3+ doped silica films containing size-tunable SnO_2 nanocrystals
Author(s) -
Xiaowei Zhang,
Tao Lin,
Pei Zhang,
Jun Xu,
Shaobing Lin,
Ling Xu,
Kunji Chen
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - German
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.22.000369
Subject(s) - materials science , photoluminescence , nanocrystal , ion , doping , infrared , optoelectronics , emission intensity , analytical chemistry (journal) , nanotechnology , optics , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , chromatography
Co-doping size-tunable SnO2 nanocrystals into Er(3+) ions embedded silica thin films produces an enhancement of Er-related near-infrared emission by three orders of magnitude. Selective PL and PLE measurements show that energy transfer process occurs between SnO2 nanocrystals and Er(3+) ions. Quantitative studies of PL decay lifetime and photoluminescence temperature-dependence demonstrate that both high energy transfer efficiency from SnO2 nanocrystals to Er(3+) ions and the partial incorporation of Er(3+) ions into SnO2 nanocrystals contribute to the near-infrared emission enhancement. All these results indicated that SnO2 nanocrystals with suitable size have great potentials in fabricating high-efficiency near-infrared luminous materials as sensitizers of Er(3+) ions.