Spectral Hole Burning in Sol-Gel-Derived Eu3+-Doped Al2O3-B2O3-SiO2 Glass

Abstract

Al2O3-B2O3-SiO2 glass containing europium ions was prepared by a sol-gel method. The excitation spectrum of the Eu3+ ions in the glass consists of the charge transfer and f-f transition absorptions of the Eu3+ ions. The emission spectrum indicates the coexistence of the Eu2+ and Eu3+ ions. The formation of some reducing agents in the heat-treatment process should be responsible for the reduction from Eu3+ to Eu2+ ions. The fluorescence line-narrowing spectra reveal that there are two different environments for the Eu3+ ions. Persist spectral hole was burned in the excitation of the 5D0-7F0 transition of the Eu3+ ions. We suggested a possible mechanism on the persistent spectral hole burning of the Eu3+ ion in the glass.