Effective infrared fluorescence of highly doped Er3+ in tellurate glass

The significant applications of Er 3+ -doped fiber lasers in the infrared spectral region have generated considerable research interest. However, the relatively low radiative efficiency of Er 3+ ions and the optimization of glass host matrices remain pivotal challenges constraining the advancement of NIR/MIR laser technologies. A set of tellurite glasses containing Er 3+ concentrations varying from 3.0 to 9.0 mol% was synthesized in this study. The structural vibrations within the glass matrix were analyzed using Raman and infrared spectroscopy. The TBE3 glass samples exhibited notable emission cross sections, measured at 1.44 × 10 –20 cm 2 at 1.5 µm and 1.81 × 10 –20 cm 2 at 2.7 µm. These results collectively suggest that the highly Er 3+ -doped tellurite glass developed in this work is a promising high-doping material for infrared lasers and holds potential for applications in near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) optical devices.