Investigation on the near-infrared-emitting thermal stability of Bi activated alkaline-earth aluminoborosilicate glasses.

Stability of near-infrared (NIR) emission form Bi doped 42.5SiO₂-12.5B₂O₃-25Al₂O₃-20RO (SBAR, R=Ca, Sr, Ba) glasses under treatment between annealing and softening temperature were studied. Results show that the thermal stability of Bi-NIR-emitting centers in SBAR glasses generally decreases with the increase of the radius of modifier cations but is greatly higher that in similar alkali glasses. Comparative experiments indicate these phenomena can be understood by the tendency that the smaller and higher charged alkaline earth ions as higher field strength modifier cations will increase the concentration of negative charge on non-bridging oxygens and also help to stabilize the non-bridging oxygens, which can restrain the thermally activated diffusion and valence change of Bi-activated centers, respectively. The results can provide an improved understanding for the NIR-emitting thermal stability of Bi doped glasses and a scientific reference for composition design of Bi-doped optical fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]