Intense red upconversion emission and temperature sensing in Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped Ba5Gd8Zn4O21 phosphor

• Published in: Materials express 2013-09, Vol.3 (3), p.241-246
• Main Authors: Tian, Bining, Chen, Baojiu, Tian, Yue, Li, Xiangping, Zhang, Jinsu, Sun, Jiashi, Fu, Shaobo, Zhong, Hua, Zhang, Xiangqing, Yu, Hongquan, Hua, Ruinian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ba5gd8zn4o21:er3+/yb3+ Phosphors; Detection; Emission; Emission analysis; Luminescence; Phosphors; Solid State Reaction; Temperature Sensing; Upconversion; X-ray diffraction; Zincates
• ISSN: 2158-5849; 2158-5857
• DOI: 10.1166/mex.2013.1121

Zincate Ba5Gd8Zn4O21 phosphors with various Er3+ and Yb3+ concentrations were prepared via a simple solid state reaction, and their crystal structures were examined by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD). Pumped by 980 nm, the zincate phosphors exhibit intense red upconversion emission corresponding to the 4F9/2→4I15/2 transition. Tested under the same condition, it was found that the upconversion emission of zincate phosphor was intenser than that of commercial Y2O3:Er3+/Yb3+ phosphor. Hence, it is believed that Ba5Gd8Zn4O21 is a favorable host material for high efficient upconversion luminescence. Based on the change of their intensities ratio of 2H11/2 and 4S3/2 emissions with temperature, the temperature sensing behavior of the phosphor was studied, in which the maximum sensor sensitivity was deduced to be 0.0024 K-1. Moreover, with the increase of temperature, the emission colors of the phosphor can be adjusted from red to yellow-green. Therefore, this phosphor may have potential application for temperature sensor as well as for warning function to ambient temperature.