Effects of alkaline-earth fluorides and OH− on spectroscopic properties of Yb3+ doped TeO2–ZnO–B2O3 based glasses

New kinds of Yb2O3-doped boro-tellurite (TeO2–ZnO–B2O3) based glasses were prepared by introducing alkaline-earth fluorides (MgF2, CaF2, SrF2, and BaF2). Their structural and spectroscopic properties were investigated by Raman and absorption spectra measurements. Dehydration ability of alkaline-earth fluorides was studied. The OH can have an obvious effect on fluorescence lifetime of Yb3+, when OH concentration is higher than NOH=4.66×1019 cm−3. For TeO2–ZnO–B2O3–BaF2 glass system, the peak values of integrated absorption and emission cross-sections achieve 7.44×104 pm3 and 1.416 pm2, respectively. It indicates that the Yb3+-doped boro-tellurite glasses containing alkaline-earth fluorides are potential materials for waveguide laser, and optical amplifier.