SYNTHESIS AND PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ERBIUM-INCLUDED MESOPOROUS MATERIALS FOR OPTICAL AMPLIFICATION

We have synthesized erbium-included mesoporous materials to enhance optical amplification gain in Er 3+-doped silica materials. Various mesoporous materials such as MCM-41, MCM-48 or SBA-15 were prepared and then erbium ions were filled into the empty pores in the mesoporous materials via sol-gel process through the external modification of the mesoporous materials. All erbium-included mesoporous materials exhibit the near infrared emission band around 1530 nm, corresponding to the characteristic 4 I 13/2→4 I 15/2 transition of erbium ions. The characteristic emission intensity of erbium ions increases with the concentration of Er 3+ ions in the erbium-included mesoporous materials.