1.54 μm infrared photoluminescence and electroluminescence from an erbium organic compound

Infrared emission at 1.54 μm excited optically and electrically from an erbium organic compound tris(acetylacetonato)(1,10-phenanthroline) erbium [Er(acac)3(phen)] is observed. The rare-earth complex is dispersed into a polymer matrix of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) to fabricate an electroluminescent (EL) device with an ITO/PVK:Er(acac)3(phen)/Al:Li/Ag structure, where ITO represents indium–tin–oxide-coated glass. The device shows infrared EL emission at 1.54 μm, which suggests a simple and cheap method to obtain a light source for 1.54-μm-wavelength devices in optical communications.