Effect of cerium oxide and niobium oxide addition on absorption and emission properties of bismuth doped silicate glasses

Abstract Ce/Bi and contrastive Nb/Bi co-doped silicate glasses were prepared to investigate the effects of CeO2 and Nb2O5 on the absorption and emission properties. Based on the spectrum measurement, interestingly it was found that the changes about valance state of Bi ions in SACB–xCeO2 and SCB–yNb2O5 are different. Furthermore, near-infrared (NIR) emission intensity all decreased with the addition of oxidizing agents. It may provide an evidence for the low valance state bismuth (Bi+, Bi0) ions being the broadband NIR active center. According to the spectral changes, we also discussed the existence form of Ce ions and Nb ions in the chemical environment around NIR active center and the possible energy level transformations of NIR emission.