Infrared fluorescence and optical gain characteristics of chalcogenide-bound erbium cluster-fluoropolymer nanocomposites

摘要

The infrared fluorescence and optical gain characteristics of optically transparent nanocomposites consisting of (THF)_(14)Er_(10)S_6Se_(12)I_6 ("Er10") or (DME)_2Er(SC_6F_5)_3 ("Er1") clusters dissolved in a transparent hexafluoroisopropyl (6F) variant of a perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB)-based fluoropolymer are reported. Under excitation at 980 nm, fluorescence was observed at 1540 nm from both Er10 and Er1 with a 3dB bandwidth of 96 and 60 nm, respectively. The maximum gain computed for Er10 and Er1 was 2.8 and 0.021 dB/cm, respectively. The corresponding threshold pump powers for Er10 and Er1 were calculated to be 1.7 and 0.2 mW, respectively. These computations are consistent with gain characteristics measured by the amplified spontaneous emission technique and suggest that these nanocomposites are promising materials for active optical devices.