Optical gain based on NaYF4: Er3+, Yb3+ nanoparticles-doped polymer waveguide under convenient LED pumping

The relative optical gains at three near infrared wavelengths (1550 nm, 1064 nm, and 980 nm) were achieved in NaYF4: Er3+, Yb3+ nanoparticle-doped SU-8 waveguides when using two low-cost light-emitting diodes (LEDs) instead of traditional 980 nm semiconductor laser as pump source. The polymer waveguides were fabricated by one-step photolithography process. The fluorescence bands around 1550 nm and 1000 nm wavelengths due to the 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 transition of Er3+ ions and 2F5/2 → 2F7/2 transition of Yb3+ ions were observed under the excitation of 405 nm and 520 nm LEDs. By using the vertical top pumping mode of LEDs, the relative gains of 4.2 dB, 1.7 dB, and 2.1 dB at 1550 nm, 1064 nm, and 980 nm wavelengths were achieved, respectively, on a 10-mm-long waveguide.