Effect of F− ions on physical and spectroscopic properties of Yb3+-doped TeO2-based glasses

The effects of F− ions on physical and spectroscopic properties of the Yb3+ in tellurite glass system are investigated. The results show that the glass system takes on good thermal stability with the content of ZnF2 lower than 15 mol%, both the emission cross-section and the fluorescence lifetime of Yb3+ ions increase evidently which indicate that such oxyfluoride tellurite glass system is a promising laser host matrix for high power generation. FT–IR spectra were used to analyze the effect of F− ions on the structure of tellurite glasses and OH− groups in this glass system. Analysis demonstrates that addition of fluoride decreases the symmetry of the structure of tellurite glasses which increases the emission cross-section and removes the OH− groups, and which improves the measured fluorescence lifetime of Yb3+ ions.