Structural and Luminescence Properties of Transparent Nanocrystalline ZrO2：Er^3＋ Films

The structural and luminescence properties of nanocrystalline ZrO2 ：Er^3＋ films are reported. Transparent nano-ZrO2 crystalline films doped with Er^3＋ have been prepared using a wet chemistry process. An intense roomtemperature emission at 1527nm with a full width at half-maximum of 46 nm has been observed, which is assigned to the ^4Ⅰ13/2 → ^4Ⅰ15/2 intra-4f^n electric transition of Er^3＋. Correlations between the luminescence properties and structures of the nanocrystalline ZrO2 ：Er^3＋ films have been investigated. Infrared-to-visible upconversion occurs simultaneously upon excitation of a commercially available 980-nm laser diode and the involved mechanisms have also been explained. The results indicate that the nanocrystalline ZrO2：Er^3＋ films might be suggested as promising materials for achieving broadband Er^3＋-doped waveguide amplifiers and upconversion waveguide lasers.