Properties of doped sapphire crystals and their optoelectronic applications

Doped sapphire crystals (e.g., Ti: Al₂O₃, Cr: Al₂O₃, C: Al₂O₃, etc.), with their excellent physicochemical properties and tunable optoelectronic properties, are of great value for applications in the fields of laser devices, radiation detectors, and pyroelectric devices. In this paper, we systematically review the defect structures, preparation methods, and the modulation of the properties of different doped sapphire crystals, focus on the modulation mechanisms of different doping elements on the optical, mechanical, and laser properties of sapphire, and also details their optoelectronic applications in devices such as lasers, radiation detectors, and pyroelectric components. In addition, based on the current research progress, this paper also looks forward to the future development direction of doped sapphire crystals, including the optimization of the preparation technology for large-size and high-concentration uniformly doped crystals, as well as the potential for applications in emerging fields such as photonic chips and high-energy physics detectors, in anticipation of growing higher-quality doped sapphire crystals through the comprehensive improvement of the preparation technology and other aspects of the laser devices (e.g. photonic computing, LIDAR and other key hardware for artificial intelligence) and other applications.