Breakthrough in Nanotechnology: Achieving High Luminescence Efficiency and Optical Gain

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from Fudan University have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of nanotechnology, developing a novel erbium-doped Si rich oxide thin film embedded with Si nanocrystals. This innovative material showcases near-infrared luminescence at a wavelength of 1540 nm, with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 20.6% after treatments, exceeding that of typical erbium-doped Si rich oxides.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers developed a novel erbium-doped Si rich oxide thin film embedded with Si nanocrystals, which exhibits near-infrared luminescence at lambda = 1540 nm.
  • The photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the pristine EDSRO was obtained to be 3.3%, and further increased to 20.6% after treatments.
  • The introduction of extra SiNCs in sequence resulted in a net optical gain of 272 cm-1 or 24.3 dB/cm.
  • The energy transfer efficiency from SiNCs to Er3+ was measured at 11.48%.
  • The findings have the potential to develop highly efficient erbium-doped light sources for optical communication.

Statistics:

  • The photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the pristine EDSRO was 3.3%.
  • The PLQY increased to 20.6% after treatments.
  • The net optical gain was 272 cm-1 or 24.3 dB/cm.
  • The energy transfer efficiency from SiNCs to Er3+ was 11.48%.
  • The wavelength of the near-infrared luminescence was 1540 nm.

Sources:

  • [1] NewsRx. Findings from Fudan University Yields New Data on Nanocrystals [Achieving High Luminescence Efficiency and Optical Gain of Erbium Ions (L=1540 Nm) In a Silicon Nanocrystalline Thin Film By a Combined Approach]. Nanotechnology Weekly. August 4, 2025; p 947.
  • [2] Lu, M., et al. Achieving High Luminescence Efficiency and Optical Gain of Erbium Ions (L=1540 Nm) In a Silicon Nanocrystalline Thin Film By a Combined Approach. Chinese Journal of Physics, 2025;96:1011-1019.
  • [3] Fudan University, Dept. of Optical Sciences and Engineering, State Key Lab Photovolta Sci & Technol, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China.
  • [4] Science & Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (STCSM), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center.