Single band of red upconverison emission in Ce-based glass ceramics for light manipulation

• Published in: Journal of luminescence 2020-11, Vol.227, p.117527, Article 117527
• Main Authors: Li, Xinyue, Shen, Zheyan, Zhu, Yiwen, Zhao, Zhangmei, Peng, Yongzhao, Zhong, Jiasong, Yang, Tao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CeF3 nanocrystals; cross relaxation; glass ceramics; red upconversion emission
• ISSN: 0022-2313; 1872-7883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2020.117527

Herein, single band of red upconversion (UC) emission in CeF3 nanostructured glass ceramics (GCs) is reported. CeF3 nanocrystals (NCs) were in-situ precipitated in aluminosilicate glass matrix, which was fabricated via quench-melting method and subsequent glass crystallization. Structural and spectrographic characterizations were also performed to verify the precipitation of CeF3 NCs and the partition of dopants. Ho3+ and Er3+ were elaborately selected to examine the cross relaxation (CR) process in Ce-based materials due to their ladder-like energy levels and similar energy gaps with Ce3+. Ultimately, single band of red UC emission was overtly observed independent of Ho3+ content, while a bit of green emission still stubbornly remained together with predominate red emission in Er3+ doped CeF3 NCs owing to the relative mismatch of energy gaps. Particularly, these results suggest that Ce-based materials are of importance in tailoring UC emissions, which could be a vital step toward realization of light manipulation for desirable emission. In CeF3 nanocrystals embedded glass ceramics, Ce3+ ions can be offered ceaselessly for cross relaxation between Ce3+ and Ho3+/Er3+. As a consequence, single band of pure red upconversion emission could be achieved independent of Ho3+, while residual green light of Er3+ remains, which is attributed to the mismatched energy gaps between Ce3+ and Er3+. [Display omitted] •.CeF3 nanocrystals were in-situ precipitated in aluminosilicate glass matrix.•.Single red emission could be achieved by cross relaxation in Ce-based materials.•Green emission of Er3+ cannot be completely eliminated in this light manipulation.