The formation of tungsten-tellurite films and investigation of their Raman scattering properties, and the studding of the luminescence properties of tungsten-tellurite glasses doped with Er3+ were performed. The amorphous tungsten-tellurite films were deposited by reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering. For Raman measurements the samples of TeO2-WO3 films without Er3+ doping were prepared. Raman spectra of the rungsten-tellurite films of the composition (100-x) TeO2-xWO(3) with x=5-30 mol% were measured. Raman measurements demonstrated that tellurium save the coordination of four in the films, corresponding to the coordination in the bulk glasses and had a short range order like the one in the crystalline alpha-TeO2.For measuring of optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra the Er3+-doped TeO2-WO3 glass samples were used. The maximum of photoluminescence spectra was observed in the Er-doped TeO2-WO3 glasses and films at the wavelength of similar to 1.53 mu m. The Judd-Ofelt parameters, Omega lambda (lambda =2, 4, 6), of Er3+ are evaluated from optical absorption spectra for tungsten-tellurite glasses. Er3+-doped tungsten-tellurite glasses showed very high quantum efficiency when comparing the calculated radiative decay time with the measured lifetime of the I-4(13/2) metastable level. The estimation of Judd-Ofelt parameters gave the values of Omega(2)=(4.28 +/- 0.2)x 10(-20) cm(2), Omega(4)=(1.13 +/- 0.2) x 10(-20) cm(2) and Omega(6) (0.72 +/- 0.2) x 10(-20) cm(2), which were in good agreement with data published in literature for other tungsten-tellurite glasses. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Using radio-frequency magnetron sputtering, it is demonstrated that amorphous films based on a tungsten tellurite glass can be deposited on different substrates (such as opal, sapphire, fused silica, Corning glass 1737, and tellurite glass). The effect of heat treatment on the intensity of photoluminescence of the films based on the 70TeO2 ⋅ 30WO3 (mol %) glass doped with R2O3 (where R is a rare-earth element) at a content over and above 100% is investigated.

TeO2–WO3 glasses coactivated with Er3+ and Yb3+ are prepared. The effect of Yb content on the efficiency of Er photoluminescence (PL) in the visible and IR spectral regions is studied. The highest PL efficiency is achieved at an Er : Yb atomic ratio of 1 : 1. The PL lifetime for the Er3+4I13/2 level is determined to be 7–9 ms.

Tellurite glasses were synthesized on the basis of the binary system composed of 70 mol % TeO2 and 30 mol % ZnCl2 and doped with Nd3+, Pr3+, Tb3+, Er3+, Yb3+, Ho3+. The physicochemical, luminescent, and magneto-optic properties of these glasses were studied.

A simple method for measuring Raman light scattering by thin films is proposed. It allows the negative effect of the substrate material onto which various coatings are deposited to be excluded. Raman scattering spectra are presented.

We carried out a comparative investigation of the photoluminescence of Er 3+ ions in tellurite glasses on melted quartz substrates and when introduced into the matrices of artificial opal. We have discovered an increase in the photoluminescence of the opal–tellurite glass–Er 3+ nanocomposite in comparison with the specimens of the same glass on melted quartz substrates.