Erbium(III)-Doped Fluorozirconate Phosphate Glasses and Glass Ceramics: Visible and NIR Luminescence

The luminescent properties of erbium(III)-doped fluorozirconate glass and fluorozirconate phosphate glass and glass ceramics containing NaPO₃ were compared. The glasses were obtained by rapid melt quenching and were characterized using luminescence spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. When NaPO₃ was added, the relative luminescence intensity of Er(III) in the near infrared (NIR) region doubled at 1530 nm (⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transition). The luminescence intensity of other bands in the visible and NIR regions decreased. Luminescence quantum yields and lifetimes of the studied samples were measured. The reasons for the change in luminescence intensity after addition of NaPO₃ and heat treatment of the samples were discussed.