Local order effects on the photoluminescence of Er3+ in a novel vitreous matrix of the CdO–ZnO–V2O5 system and manifolds in ZnxAl2−xO3 micro crystalline aggregates

Abstract The ion Er3+ was introduced into a new kind of glassy matrices prepared from a mixture of CdO–ZnO–V2O5 and Er(NO3)3·5H2O as source of Er3+ ions. The obtained glasses were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and micro photoluminescence and micro Raman spectroscopies. The glass formation process produced Al diffusion from the crucible to the oxides mixture yielding crystalline micro aggregates. The room temperature photoluminescence spectra showed transitions from different Er3+ levels in the 450–900 nm range. In particular, the 4F9/2 → 4I15/2 transitions were strongly affected by local electric fields since these transitions presented Stark effect splittings whose intensity was dependent on the atomic order surrounding the Er3+ ions. It was found that a highly reproducible multiplet emission was particularly strong in crystalline micro-regions of ZnxAl2−xO3 immersed in the vitreous matrix.