Synthesis and characterization of Er:Yb 3 Al 5 O 12 nanopowder

Er:Yb1Al5O12 (Er:YbAG) nanopowder was prepared by carbonate coprecipitation method. Highpurity Er:YbAG powder was obtained after calcination at as low as 1000°C with an average particle size of 70 nm. The Al–O–Yb phonon vibrations were investigated and the absorption band arisen from interaction between lattice vibration and photon in YbAG is located around 610 cm–1. A strong emission peak of powder was observed at 1.53 µm with 980 nm laser excitation. An energy transfer mechanism between Yb3+ and Er3+ states responsible for the peak emission was proposed. An optimum Er3+ dopant concentration was determined.