Abstract
Optical fiber with YPO(4):Pr(3+) nanocrystals (NCs) is presented for the first time using the glass powder-NCs doping method. The method's advantage is separate preparation of NCs and glass to preserve luminescent and optical properties of NCs once they are incorporated into optical fiber. The YPO(4):Pr(3+) nanocrystals were synthesized by the co-precipitation and hydrothermal methods, optimized for size (< 100 nm), shape, Pr(3+) ions concentration (0.2 mol%), and emission lifetime. The core glass was selected from the non-silica P(2)O(5)-containing system with refractive index (n = 1.788) close to the NCs (n(o) = 1.657, n(e) = 1.838). Optical fiber was drawn by modified powder-in-tube method after pre-sintering of glass powder-YPO(4):Pr(3+) (wt 3%) mixture to form optical fiber preform. Luminescent properties of YPO(4):Pr(3+) and optical fiber showed their excellent agreement, including sharp Pr(3+) emission at 600 nm ((1)D(2)-(3)H(4)) and (1)D(2) level lifetime (τ = 156 ± 5 µs) under 488 nm excitation. The distribution of the YPO(4):Pr(3+) NCs in optical fiber were analyzed by TEM-EDS in the core region (FIB-SEM-prepared). The successful usage of glass powder-NCs doping method was discussed in the aspect of promising properties of the first YPO(4):Pr(3+) doped optical fiber as a new way to develop active materials for lasing applications, among others.