Local symmetry and Z-scan analysis of ZnSe/Eu3+ doped sol–gel silica hosts

Abstract

Vibrational state side-band spectral analysis of silica matrices, doped with ZnSe/Eu3+ ions, associated with the excitation transition 7F0→5D2 is used to analyze the local asymmetry of the rare earth ions in the glass host. The large inhomogeneous linewidth for the ZnSe co-doped samples indicates the wide distribution of the Eu3+ ions in the matrix and is related to the flexibility of the local glass network. The fluorescence spectra reveal that the intensity of the characteristic emission of europium increases considerably in the presence of ZnSe particles. This phenomenon can be explained by the energy transfer resulting from electron–hole recombination in the ZnSe to the rare earth ion. Nonlinear optical absorption of the sample is also investigated at a wavelength of 532 nm, using open aperture Z-scan technique. The sample exhibits reversible saturable absorption (RSA), which is found to depend on excitation fluence. RSA is due to the enhanced absorption resulting from the electron dynamics in nano-crystallites.