The effect of MnCO3 on the gain coefficient for the 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 transition of Er3+ ions and near-infrared emission bandwidth flatness of Er3+/Tm3+/Yb3+ co-doped barium zinc silicate glasses

Abstract

The roles of Mn²⁺ ions in the MnCO₃ compound, leading to the formation of an Mn²⁺–Yb³⁺ dimer and affecting the gain coefficient for the ⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transition of Er³⁺ ions and near-infrared (NIR) emission bandwidth flatness of Er³⁺/Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺ co-doped in SiO₂–ZnO–BaO (SZB) barium zinc silicate glasses, were investigated in this work. The composition of all elements from the original raw materials that exist in the host glasses was determined using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Under the excitation of a 980 nm laser diode (LD), the NIR emission of Er³⁺/Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺-co-doped SZB glasses produced a bandwidth of about 430 nm covering the O, E, and C bands. The effects of Mn²⁺ ions and the Mn²⁺–Yb³⁺ dimer on the gain coefficient for the ⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transition of Er³⁺ ions and bandwidth flatness of NIR emission of Er³⁺/Tm³⁺-co-doped and Er³⁺/Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺-co-doped SZB glasses were also assigned. The optimal molar concentration of Mn²⁺ ions was determined such that the NIR bandwidth flatness of Er³⁺/Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺-co-doped SZB glasses was the flattest. In addition, the role of Mn²⁺ ions in reducing the gain coefficient for the ⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transition of Er³⁺ ions was also calculated and discussed.