Photoluminescence Properties of Yb and Ag Co-Doped Ta₂O₅ Thin Films

Abstract

We prepared ytterbium and silver co-doped tantalum-oxide (Ta2O5:Yb,Ag) thin films using a simple co-sputtering method and evaluated photoluminescence (PL) properties of the films after annealing. We found that a PL peak at a wavelength of 980 nm due to Yb3+ can be strongly enhanced by Ag doping. From X-ray diffraction measurements, we found that Ag2Ta8O21 and orthorhombic Ta2O5 crystalline phases are very important in order to enhance the 980-nm peak observed from our Ta2O5:Yb,Ag thin films. Because of the human-body transmittability of the 980-nm wavelength, such films are applicable to a novel real-time X-ray dosimeter system.

Stokes and Anti-Stokes Luminescent Rare-Earth-Doped Tantalum Oxide Nanoparticles

“…One approach to set the desirable properties to tantalum oxide for optical and electrochemical applications , is to dope the oxide matrix with REEs. On a Ta 2 O 5 base, luminescent thin films, − bulk gels, and mixed oxides were prepared. Meanwhile, the preparation of REE-doped particles of Ta 2 O 5 is presented in a small number of publications. − The obtained materials are promising for photocatalytic , and electrocatalytic applications, rib waveguide lasers, and X-ray-excited optical luminescent agents .…”