Thermal stability and UV–Vis-NIR spectroscopy of a new erbium-doped fluorotellurite glass

A new transparent bulk glass from the system 76TeO2 · 10ZnO · 9.0PbO · 1.0PbF2 · 3.0Na2O doped with Er3+ (TZPPN doped with Er3+) has been prepared using the conventional melt-quenching method. Results of differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurements indicate good thermal stability of this glass. The refractive indices at different wavelengths, the optical energy gap, the Sellmeier gap energy and the dispersion energy have been estimated. The Judd–Ofelt parameters, Ω t (t = 2, 4, 6) of Er3+ were evaluated from optical absorption spectra. Electric dipole, magnetic dipole type transition probabilities, spectroscopic quality factors, branching ratio and radiative lifetimes of several excited states of Er3+ have been predicted using intensity Judd–Ofelt parameters. The spectroscopic properties indicate that TZPPN glass doped with Er3+ is a promising candidate for laser applications and may be suitable for upconversion fibre optical devices.