Intense 2.7 µm emission of Er3+/Pr3+ doped Ga5Ge20Sb10S65 chalcogenide glass

There are numerous vital usages for mid-infrared (MIR) lasers in satellite communication, biomedicine, military, remote sensing, and environmental monitoring. In this work, a progression of Er3+ ions doped, Er3+/Pr3+ ions co-doped Ga5Ge20Sb10S65 glasses were prepared, and their physical performances and structural characteristics were examined. To understand the non-phonon-assisted energy transfer mechanism, we recorded the up-conversion and infrared fluorescence emission spectra by pumping with a commercial 980 nm LD. Then the 2.7 µm strong fluorescence signal intensity can be obtained when the doped concentration of Pr3+ is proper. After the doping of Pr3+, fluorescence lifetime results revealed that the lifetimes of the Er3+:4I13/2 level fell dramatically from 7.33 to 1.90 ms, which experienced a much more significant decrease in lifetimes than the Er3+:4I11/2 level. The MIR fluorescence performances were assessed by the determined J–O parameters and relative emission cross sections. Additionally, the generally huge emission cross sections and the small pump energy show that it is possible to obtain population inversion with relatively small pump energy; thus the Er3+/Pr3+ glasses have great potential to be 2.7 µm laser materials. © 2023 The American Ceramic Society.