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Fluorescence line narrowing studies of Eu{sub 3+}-doped silica gel-glasses

Book ·
OSTI ID:51642
;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
Broadband fluorescence and fluorescence line narrowing (FLN) spectra are presented for Eu{sup 3+} ions in Eu{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2} and Eu{sub 2}O{sub 3}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2} systems prepared by the sol-gel process. Clustering of rare earth ions in silica glass can be a limiting factor in the design and engineering of optical device materials. The addition of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} is known to help disperse rare earth ions in sol-gel silica. In order to develop a more detailed understanding of how Eu{sup 3+} is incorporated in these materials, time-resolved, laser-induced FLN studies at 77 K have been performed using a pulsed dye laser to selectively excite subsets of ions in the inhomogeneously broadened {sup 7}F{leftrightarrow} {sup 5}D{sub 0} manifold. Fluorescence spectra are discussed in terms of rare earth ion clustering, energy transfer, and bonding site symmetry. It is concluded that Eu{sup 3+} ions cluster in sol-gel silica and that the addition of alumina assists in dispersing Eu{sup 3+} ions.
OSTI ID:
51642
Report Number(s):
CONF-940411--; ISBN 1-55899-246-4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English