Comparative assessment of the influence of Nd3+ and Er3+ ions on the thermal quenching of Cu+ photoluminescence in phosphate glass

A comparative analysis was carried out on the influence of temperature on the photoluminescence (PL) of Cu+ ions in phosphate glass co-doped with either Nd3+ or Er3+. The data revealed a lower activation energy for the thermal quenching of Cu+ PL in the Nd3+-containing glass for Cu+ sites emitting in resonance with I-4(9/2) -> (4)G(5/2) + (2)G(7/2 )absorption in Nd3+ ions. In contrast, a similar evaluation for the Cu+ /Er3+ co-doped glass for Cu+ PL in resonance with relevant I-4(15/2) -> F-4(9/2) Er(3+ )absorption produces results comparable to the reference glass without rare earth ions. The current results suggest that the efficient Cu+ -> Nd3+ non-radiative transfer reported supports a deactivation of the resonant Cu+ emitting states with increasing temperature.