Enhanced near-infrared emission from erbium and cerium oxide codoped silica nanocomposite

Er3+-doped CeO2-SiO2 nanocomposite was successfully fabricated by a sol-gel route. The homogeneous distribution of CeO2 nanocrystals among amorphous silica matrix was evidenced by the X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The incorporation of Er3+ ions into CeO2 nanocrystals was revealed by emission spectra and luminescence decay curves. Increasing CeO2 content and raising annealing temperature lead to the enhancement of the 1532 nm Er3+ emission, because CeO2 nanocrystals can efficiently sensitize the emission of Er3+, provide a low phonon energy environment, and defend them from hydroxyl quenching. It is expected that the investigated nanocomposite might be a promising candidate for optical fiber communication.