Broad band NIR emission from nanostructured Rare earth doped Nb2O5 and Ta2O5 derived materials for photonic applications as optical amplifiers and energy converters.

Abstract

This research project focuses on the development of broad nanostructured materials based on rare earth ions (TE) doped niobium oxide (Nb2O5) and tantalum oxide (Ta2O5), which exhibit near infrared (NIR) emission, specially in the form of active planar and channel waveguides. The materials will be prepared using the sol-gel methodology and targeting applications such as optical amplifiers and energy converters for telecommunications systems or increased efficiency in solar cells. Alkoxy precursors and oxides of Ta2O5, Nb2O5, SiO2 and GeO2 will be used for the synthesis. In the case of niobium, a focus will be given on the use of national mining precursors (CBMM), where Brazil plays an extremely important role in the world scenario of niobium extraction. Concerning on the precursors of RE elements, commercial oxides and reclycling products from the FAPESP project (2016 / 50112-8 entitled Recovery of lanthanides and other metals from WEEE), which involves an international network of researchers, will be used.Luminescence in the visible region will also be studied, not only as a competitive process with the emission in the NIR, but also aiming at the great potential arising from the upconversion, downshifting and downconversion processes of energy conversion for application in Photonics and Biophotonics. The preparation of the materials, spectroscopic and structural characterization as a function of composition,RE doping and thermal annealing represent the basis of the academic study which gives continuity to the excellent results previously developed in our group. A systematic study will be carried out correlating structure of matter and morphological, structural, spectroscopic and optical properties.