Spectroscopic Properties of Inorganic Glasses Doped with Pr(3+): A Comparative Study

The results presented in this communication concern visible and near-IR emission of Pr(3+) ions in selected inorganic glasses, i.e., borate-based glass with Ga(2)O(3) and BaO, lead-phosphate glass with Ga(2)O(3), gallo-germanate glass modified by BaO/BaF(2), and multicomponent fluoride glass based on InF(3). Glasses present several emission bands at blue, reddish orange, and near-infrared spectral ranges, which correspond to 4f–4f electronic transitions of Pr(3+). The profiles of emission bands and their relative intensity ratios depend strongly on glass-host. Visible emission of Pr(3+) ions is tuned from red/orange for borate-based glass to nearly white light for multicomponent fluoride glass based on InF(3). The positions and spectral linewidths for near-infrared luminescence bands at the optical telecommunication window corresponding to the (1)G(4) → (3)H(5), (1)D(2) → (1)G(4), and (3)H(4) → (3)F(3),(3)F(4) transitions of Pr(3+) are dependent on glass-host matrices and excitation wavelengths. Low-phonon fluoride glasses based on InF(3) and gallo-germanate glasses with BaO/BaF(2) are excellent candidates for broadband near-infrared optical amplifiers. Spectroscopic properties of Pr(3+)-doped glasses are compared and discussed in relation to potential optical applications.