Structural evolution of Er3+ ions in Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 glass-ceramics

Luminescence characteristics of Er3+-doped Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 (LAS) glass and glass-ceramic were evaluated by measuring their absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra and fluorescence lifetime. The absorption cross section of I-4(13/2)-I-4(15/2) transition at 1.5 mu m increased after cerammization. In contrast, fluorescence intensity of the 1.5 mu m emission, fluorescence lifetime, tau(f) and the Quantum efficiency, eta calculated from tau(f) and spontaneous emission probabilities decreased after cerammization. The decrease of tau(f) and eta was attributed to the increase of the nonradiative decay rate, W-nr caused by accumulation of Er3+ ions in the glass matrix containing OH ions by cerammization. (C)2008 The Ceramic Society of Japan. All rights reserved.