Evolution of the sensitized Er(3+) emission by silicon nanoclusters and luminescence centers in silicon-rich silica

The structural and optical properties of erbium-doped silicon-rich silica samples containing different Si concentrations are studied. Intense photoluminescence (PL) from luminescence centers (LCs) and silicon nanoclusters (Si NCs), which evolves with annealing temperatures, is obtained. By modulating the silicon concentrations in samples, the main sensitizers of Er(3+) ions can be tuned from Si NCs to LCs. Optimum Er(3+) PL, with an enhancement of more than two, is obtained in the samples with a medium Si concentration, where the sensitization from Si NCs and LCs coexists.