Preparation and optical properties of sol–gel derived Er3+-doped Al2O3–Ta2O5 films

Abstract Thin films of the system xAl2O3–(100 − x)Ta2O5–1Er2O3 were prepared by a sol–gel method and a dip-coating technique. The influences of the composition and the crystallization of the films on Er3+ optical properties were investigated. Results of X-ray diffraction indicated that the crystallization temperature of Ta2O5 increased from 800 to 1000 °C with increased values of x. In crystallized films, the intensities of the visible fluorescence and upconversion fluorescence tend to decrease with an increase in x values, due to the high phonon energy of Al2O3; the strongest fluorescence is observed in a crystallized film for x = 4 heat treated at 1000 °C. In amorphous films obtained by heat treatment at relatively low temperatures the Er3+ fluorescence could not be observed because strong fluorescence from organic residues remaining in the films thoroughly covered the Er3+ fluorescence. On the other hand, the Er3+ upconversion fluorescence in the amorphous films was observed to be stronger than that in the crystallized films. The strongest upconversion fluorescence is observed in an amorphous film for x = 75 heat treated at 800 °C.