Effect of GeO2 on structure and properties of Yb: Phosphate glass

Abstract The structure evolution and relationship between structure and properties of Yb3+-doped phosphate glasses with adding GeO2 from 0 to 450 wt% (marked as PG) were analyzed using Tg, Yb3+ local environment parameters, XRD, infrared and Raman spectra. The formation of Ge-O-P was valuable for improving spectroscopic properties at low germanium oxide (GeO2 100 wt%), some significant macroscopic phase separation phenomena were observed by XRD, absorption spectra, double fluorescence lifetime, SEM and EPMA measurements. A component-property evaluation criterion for optimizing Stark splitting and spectroscopic properties was suggested by comprehensive evaluation of the glass stability, Stark splitting, spectral properties and phase separation of Yb3+-doped PG glass system, i.e., the appropriate proportions of O/(P + Ge) and P/Ge were 2.87–2.96 and 4.36–8.71, respectively.