Single-crystal erbium chloride silicate nanowires as a Si-compatible light emission material in communication wavelength

We report on the first synthesis and structural characterizations of a new Erbium (Er) compound, the erbium chloride silicate (ECS, Er3Cl(SiO4)2) single crystal in a Si-ECS core-shell nanowire form. The Er-concentration in ECS at 1.6x1022 cm−3 is three orders of magnitude higher than that of the Er-doped materials. Photoluminescence spectra at both low and room temperatures exhibit well separated sharp emission lines in the near infrared region. The new single-crystal erbium-compound nanowires provide a unique Si-compatible material for high-gain light emission in communication wavelength and for many other photonic applications.