Growth and optical properties of (Yb3−xYx)Al5O12:Ce3+ single crystals

Abstract To improve the infrared emission of Yb3+ ions doped in the garnet host Y3Al5O12 (YAG) single crystal through the energy transfer from Ce3+ to Yb3+ ions, the 〈1 1 1〉-oriented YAG:Ce3+, YAG:Yb3+, YAG:(Ce3+, Yb3+) and Yb3Al5O12:Ce3+ (YbAG:Ce3+) single crystals were grown using the Czochralski Method, respectively. The excitation and emission spectra of these garnet single crystals were characterized. In YAG:Ce3+ crystal, the yellow emission of Ce3+ ions present, but it was completely extinguished in YAG:(Ce3+, Yb3+) crystal and YbAG:Ce3+ crystal. However, the characteristic absorption bands of Ce3+ still existed in the excitation spectrum of Yb3+ ions, which showed that the energy absorbed by Ce3+ ions can be transferred to Yb3+ ions for its infrared emission.