Improvement of Er3+:4I11/2→Ce3+:2F5/2 energy transfer rate in Er3+/Ce3+ co-doped TeO2–ZnO–Na2O–Nb2O5 glasses

The B2O3 component was introduced into Er3+/Ce3+ co-doped TeO2–ZnO–Na2O–Nb2O5 glass to improve energy transfer rate of Er3+:4I11/2→Ce3+:2F5/2 phonon-assisted cross-relaxation process. With the 6 mol% substitution of B2O3 for TeO2, the energy transfer rate increased from 1300 to 1831 s−1 and the fluorescence intensity increased by about 13.4%. However, the more B2O3 substitution in the same glass system reduced the quantum efficiency of Er3+:4I13/2→4I15/2 transition due to the higher OH− group concentration. The results show that an appropriate amount of B2O3 component can be used to improve the phonon-assisted energy transfer rate and enhance 1.53 μm fluorescence emission by increasing the phonon energy of host glass. The effect of B2O3 on the energy transfer process, the lifetimes of the 4I11/2 and 4I13/2 levels, and the upconversion emission have also been investigated.