Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Broadband fluorescence and fluorescence line narrowing (FLN) spectra arepresented for Eu3+ ions in Eu2O3-SiO3 and Eu2O3-Al2O3-SiO3systems prepared by the sol-gel process. Clustering of rare earth ions insilica glass can be a limiting factor in the design and engineering ofoptical device materials. The addition of Al2O3 isknown to help disperse rare earth ions in sol-gel silica. In order todevelop a more detailed understanding of how Eu3+ is incorporatedin these materials, time-resolved, laser-induced FLN studies at 77 K havebeen performed using a pulsed dye laser to selectively excite subsets ofions in the inhomogeneously broadened 7F0⇆ 5D0 manifold. Fluorescence spectra are discussed interms of rare earth ion clustering, energy transfer, and bonding sitesymmetry. It is concluded that Eu3+ ions cluster in sol-gelsilica and that the addition of alumina assists in dispersing Eu3+ ions.