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Nanocrystalline (HoxY1−x)2Ti2O7 luminophores for short- and mid-infrared lasers

  • Original Paper: Sol–gel and hybrid materials for optical, photonic and optoelectronic applications
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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.

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Photonics and Electronics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Chaberská 57, 18251, Prague 8, Czech Republic

    Jan Mrázek, Soňa Kamrádková, Ivo Bartoň, Petr Vařák, Yauhen Baravets & Ondřej Podrazký

  2. Institute of Physics of Materials of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Žižkova 22, 616 62, Brno, Czech Republic

    Jiří Buršík

  3. Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic

    Roman Skála

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  1. Jan Mrázek
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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

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