A strategy for preparing broadband polymer based optical waveguide amplifiers: doping low crystal field symmetric nanocrystals in polymer matrix as gain media
IF 6.8 2区 材料科学Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY
Hao Cui
(, ), Zixuan Jiang
(, ), Yu Yang
(, ), Siliang Tao
(, ), Shuang Wu
(, ), Jing Yin
(, ), Fei Wang
(, ), Guanshi Qin
(, ), Fanchao Meng
(, ), Dan Zhao
(, ), Weiping Qin
(, )
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Optical waveguide amplifiers are essential devices in integrated optical systems, with their gain bandwidths directly influencing the operating wavelengths of optical circuits. Previous Er3+-doped polymer optical waveguide amplifiers have been limited to amplifying signals within the C-band. To achieve broadband polymer optical waveguide amplification, we propose the use of nanocrystals with low crystal field symmetry to extend the working bandwidth. Our approach utilizes LiYF4: Yb, Er nanoparticles embedded in poly(methyl methacrylate) as the gain medium, enabling signal amplification from most of the S-band to the whole (C + L) band. The low crystal field symmetry of the LiYF4 host significantly splits the 4I13/2 and 4I15/2 levels of Er3+ ions owing to the crystal field effect, facilitating broadband down-conversion luminescence under 980-nm excitation. Furthermore, a fluorescence kinetic analysis confirms that the broadband luminescence of Er3+ arises from significant energy-level splitting caused by the crystal field effect. Under 980-nm excitation, the amplifiers exhibited relative gains of approximately 12.6 dB at 1535 nm, 7.4 dB at 1480 nm, and 3.7 dB at 1610 nm. The Er3+-doped broadband polymer optical waveguide amplifier was successfully prepared.
期刊介绍:
Science China Materials (SCM) is a globally peer-reviewed journal that covers all facets of materials science. It is supervised by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and co-sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The journal is jointly published monthly in both printed and electronic forms by Science China Press and Springer. The aim of SCM is to encourage communication of high-quality, innovative research results at the cutting-edge interface of materials science with chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering. It focuses on breakthroughs from around the world and aims to become a world-leading academic journal for materials science.