Influence of Freon Heat Treatment on Optical properties of Er-Doped Silica-Gel Glasses

A significant interest in preparation and investigation of optical properties of Er-doped silica glasses has been recently noticed. Such glasses are important in telecommunication systems as materials for construction of signal amplifiers [1]. The glasses may be obtained by the soI-gel technology which allows us to produce high optical quality silica glasses at low temperatures [2]. The most essential limitation of the sol-gel glass is a high concentration of OH— groups which are the principal technological factor decreasing the luminescence quantum yield of Er-doped silica glasses. A significant decrease in the hydroxyl ion concentration is possible by thermal treatment of xerogels in a freon atmosphere [1]. In the present work we report the inIluence of such treatment on optical characteristics of Er-doped silica glasses obtained via the sol-gel method.