Effect of B2O3 Content on the Spectroscopic Properties and Thermal Stability of Er(superscript 3+)-doped Niobic Tellurite Glasses

A series of niobic tellurite glasses of 85TeO2-(15-x)Nb2O5-xB2O3-1%Er2O3 (TNB x=0,3,6,9,12,15, molar fraction) glasses were prepared. The effect of B2O3 content on the spectroscopic properties and thermal stability of Er(superscript 3+)-doped niobic tellurite glasses were investigated and discussed based on Judd-Ofelt (J-O) and McCumber theory. For the glasses with different B2O3 content, it is found that the transition temperature (T(subscript g)), crystallization onset temperature (T(subscript x))ΔT, J-O intensity parameters Ω(subscript t) (t=2, 4, 6), the product of fluorescence full width at half maximum (FWHM) and the peak of stimulated emission cross-section (σ(superscript peak subscript e)) reach the maximum values when B2O3 is 9% (molar fraction). The measured lifetime of Er(superscript 3+):4I(subscript 13/2) level (τ(subscript m)) increases monotonically with increasing B2O3. The results indicate that in Er(superscript 3+)-doped niobic tellurite glasses, proper amount of B2O3 can be used as a modifier to improve thermal stability and spectroscopic properties of Er3(superscript 3+) ions.