Weak clustering and self-quenching in a fluorophosphate glass doped by Yb3+ and Er3+ organic precursors

The basic limitation for Er-doped glass waveguide development is due to clustering of active ions providing part of the observed self-quenching. We introduce rare-earth-doping by an organic precursor, Er(btfa)3bipy, with large Er–Er distances instead of those usually found in Er2O3. This is shown to allow some reduction of the ion clustering even in multicomponent glasses as demonstrated by the co-operative luminescence signature of Yb3+ used as a probe. Correlatively, self-quenching of the 1.5 μm transition of Er3+ is found to be reduced.