Influence of the Er3+ content on the luminescence properties and on the structure of Er2O3-SiO2 xerogels

Er2O3-SiO2 xerogels doped with different Er/Si concentrations were annealed at 950°C for 120 h. The Er3+ doping level varied from 0 to 40000 Er/Si ppm. The effect of Er2O3 content on the sintering behavior of silica gels and on the luminescence properties was studied by Vis-NIR absorption, Raman, and luminescence spectroscopies.