Synthesis, characterization and luminescence properties of ZrO2:Yb3+–Er3+ nanophosphor

✍ Scribed by P. Salas; C. Angeles-Chávez; J.A. Montoya; E. De la Rosa; L.A. Diaz-Torres; H. Desirena; A. Martı́nez; M.A. Romero-Romo; J. Morales

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 644 KB
• Volume: 27
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0925-3467
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2004.10.019

✦ Synopsis

The effects of the Yb 3+ concentration on the structural and luminescence properties of ZrO 2 :Yb 3+ -Er 3+ nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel process are reported. The evolution of the crystalline structure and crystallite size as a function of Yb 3+ concentration were investigated by XRD and TEM. The experimental results show that it is possible to obtain tetragonal and cubic structures by codoping the system 1 mol % Er 2 O 3 -ZrO 2 with 2 and 8 mol % of Yb 2 O 3 , respectively. Upconversion luminescence at 656 nm (red), 544 nm, 525 nm (green) and 410 nm (blue) all characteristic of Er 3+ ion, was observed when the ZrO 2 :Yb 3+ -Er 3+ nanophosphors were excited at 968 nm, as well as the cooperative emission of Yb 3+ (525 nm). The red and blue upconversion emission is enhanced with the increment of Yb 3+ ion concentration, while the cooperative emission disappears in the presence of Er 3+ . The nature of this behavior is discussed taking into account the nonradiative energy transfer of one cooperative photon and cross-relaxation process.