Growth of Zr co-doped Tm:LiNbO₃ single crystal for improvement of photoluminescence property in blue wavelength range

Tm₂O₃ 0.5 and 1 mol% doped LiNbO₃ single crystals with near-stoichiometric composition were grown by the micro-pulling-down method. Also, ZrO₂ 2, 3 and 4 mol% were co-doped in the Tm doped LiNbO₃ single crystals to improve optical damage resistance. The grown crystals were free of crack and the structural properties were confirmed by the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. Electron probe micro analysis (EPMA) showed that dopants were homogeneously incorporated into the LiNbO₃ single crystals. And the photoluminescence (PL) properties were measured in the visible wavelength range. In the result of PL analysis, strong emission was observed around 470 nm in blue wavelength region and the PL properties were increased remarkably by the addition of ZrO₂.