Nanostructure of Er3+ doped silicates

  • Nan Yao
  • , Kirk Hou
  • , Christopher D. Haines
  • , Nathan Etessami
  • , Varadh Ranganathan
  • , Susan B. Halpern
  • , Bernard H. Kear
  • , Lisa C. Klein
  • , George H. Sigel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We demonstrate nanostructural evolution resulting in highly increased photoluminescence in silicates doped with Er3+ ions. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) imaging, nano-energy dispersed X-ray (NEDX) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence analysis confirm the local composition and structure changes of the Er3+ ions upon thermal annealing. We studied two types of amorphous nanopowder: the first is of the composition SiO2/18Al2O3/2Er 2O3 (SAE), synthesized by combustion flame-chemical vapor condensation, and the second is with a composition of SiO2/8Y 2O3/2Er2O3 (SYE), synthesized by sol-gel synthesis (composition in mol%). Electron diffraction and HRTEM imaging clearly show the formation of nanocrystallites with an average diameter of ∼8 nm in SAE samples annealed at 1000°C and SYE samples annealed at 1200°C. The volume fraction of the nanocrystalline phase increased with each heat treatment, eventually leading to complete devitrification at 1400°C. Further XRD and NEDX analysis indicates that the nanocrystalline phase has the pyrochlore structure with the formula ErxAl2-xSi 2O7 or ErxY2-xSi2O 7 and a surrounding silica matrix.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)309-315
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Electron Microscopy
Volume54
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Instrumentation

Keywords

  • Erbium
  • HRTEM
  • Nanocrystal
  • Nanopowder
  • Photoluminescence
  • Silicate
  • Waveguide

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