Spectroscopic properties of deep red emitting Tm3+ doped ZnPbWTe glasses for optoelectronic and laser applications

Abstract Thulium (Tm3+) doped Zinc Lead Tungsten Tellurite (ZnPbWTe) glasses having the composition 5ZnO-15PbO-20WO3-(60-x)TeO2-xTm2O3 were prepared by using melt quenching technique and analysed with optical absorption, photoluminescence (PL) and PL decay spectral measurements. The absorption data was used to calculate oscillator strengths and the Judd-Ofelt (J-O) parameters. The emission spectra were recorded under 472 nm excitation exhibit intense fluorescent peaks 650 nm and 806 nm. The emission spectral data correlated with J-O theory was used to determine radiative parameters like radiative transition probability (AR), total radiative transition probability (AT), branching ratio (βR) and radiative lifetimes (τR) for the fluorescent levels of Tm3+ ions in ZnPbWTe glasses. The decay curves for the 1G4 → 3F4 transition under 472 nm excitation were investigated to calculate experimental lifetimes (τexp) and quantum efficiency (η). The σse and η reveals that ZnPbWTe glasses doped with 1 mol% of Tm3+ ions are most suitable for fabricating deep red emitting optoelectronic devices and lasers.