Thermal stability and spectroscopic properties of Er3+-doped niobium tellurite glasses for broadband amplifiers

Three Er3+-doped tellurite glasses with compositions of 70TeO2–30ZnO, 70TeO2–20ZnO–10Nb2O5 and 70TeO2–20ZnO–5BaO–5Nb2O5 have been investigated for developing fiber and planar broadband amplifiers and lasers. The optical spectroscopic properties and thermal stability of Er3+-doped tellurite glasses have been discussed. The results show that the incorporation of Nb2O5 increases the thermal stability of Er3+-doped tellurite glasses significantly, Er3+-doped niobium tellurite glasses 70TeO2–20ZnO–10Nb2O5 and 70TeO2–20ZnO–5BaO–5Nb2O5 exhibit the good thermal stability (ΔT > 150 °C), the large emission cross-section (>10 × 10−21 cm2) and broad full width at half maximum (∼65 nm), will be preferable for broadband Er3+-doped fiber amplifiers.