Nanoceramic materials for power lasers operating in short- mid-infrared

A tremendous scientific effort has been devoted to finding materials suitable for high-power laser operations in the field of “eye-safe” infrared lasers for telecommunications, tracking, navigation systems, etc. The increasing power of lasers places high demands on the materials, which must exhibit high thermal stability and luminescence efficiency. A pyrochlore luminophores with a general structure $\left(\mathrm{RE}_{8} \mathrm{Y}_{1-\mathrm{x}}\right)_{2} \mathrm{~B}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{7}$ represent a perspective class of materials for their outstanding optical properties. This contribution presents sol-gel preparation of $\left(\mathrm{Ho}_{0.03} \mathrm{Y}_{0.97}\right)_{2} \mathrm{Ti}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{7}$ and $\left(\mathrm{Ho}_{0.03} \mathrm{Y}_{0.97}\right)_{2} \mathrm{Zr}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{7}$ powders materials as potential sources for high-power lasers with a comparative study on structural properties focusing on the role of cation B in matrix and subsequential luminescence properties in the spectral range of 2 and 3 um. Prepared pyrochlores can be suitable as thin layers for active media for integrated waveguides. Obtained results revealed that compared with Ti-doped powders, the powders containing Zr showed prolonged decay time recorded at 2025nm and 2950nm by 6% and 10%, respectively. The luminescence decay time of $\left(\mathrm{Ho}_{0.03} \mathrm{Y}_{0.97}\right)_{2} \mathrm{Zr}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{7}$ recorded at 2050nm and 2950nm was 4.87ms and 0.3ms, respectively. The obtained results can improve the efficiency of solid-state and fiber lasers operating at 2000 and 2950 nm.