Fluorescence yield in rare-earth-doped sol–gel silicate glasses

We have used trivalent terbium to investigate the mechanism behind fluorescence enhancement by Al3+ co-doping. Our results indicate that rare-earth (RE) ions cluster together in aluminum-rich regions of the glass, and behave as if they were dispersed uniformly throughout these regions when the ratio of Al to RE is ∼10 or greater. We also studied the effects of adding chemical drying agents to the precursor solution for the synthesis of sol–gel-derived silicate glasses. Such glasses can be treated at significantly higher annealing temperatures without degradation of optical quality, and have the density of melt glass. Fluorescence yield from doped RE ions improves markedly with the addition of the drying agents, and the denser glasses are not subject to rehydration.