Highly luminescent Eu3+ or Tb3+ doped and ZnO sensitized optical fibers drawn from silicon compatible sealing glasses

Abstract

A strongly enhanced luminescence efficiency of zincborate glasses and glass fibers doped with trivalent europium or terbium is reported. The enhancement is attributed to a high content of direct gap ZnO nanocrystallites which operate as sensitizer for the rare-earth ions. The glasses have a low softening point and are designed to be compatible with the silicon technology. Applications as scintillating devices integrated on silicon are suggested.