Luminescence properties of ytterbium and erbium doped silica–zirconia nanostructured optical fiber under near infrared excitation

We present here the luminescence properties of erbium and ytterbium doped silica–zirconia nanostructured optical fibers prepared by the chemical sol–gel method. After describing the preparation process, their waveguiding properties as well as luminescence properties under continuous pumping in the near infrared domain (NIR) are reported; the effects of the zirconia nanocrystals that are dispersed in the core of the fibers on their optical properties are finally discussed.