Intense UV upconversion through highly sensitized NaRF sub(4):Tm (R:Y,Yb) crystals

Photon upconverting luminescent hexagonal NaRF sub(4):Tm (0.5 mol%) (R:Y super(3+),Yb super(3+)) crystals with Yb super(3+) concentrations between 20 and 99.5 mol% were synthesized by a modified thermal coprecipitation method. The effects of the Yb super(3+) sensitizer concentration on the shape, si...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:RSC advances 2015-04, Vol.5 (45), p.35858-35865
Main Authors: Kale, Vishal, Lastusaari, Mika, Holsae, Jorma, Soukka, Tero
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coprecipitation
Crystals
Dynamic structural analysis
Emission
Luminescence
Photons
Solid state lasers
Upconversion
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Summary:Photon upconverting luminescent hexagonal NaRF sub(4):Tm (0.5 mol%) (R:Y super(3+),Yb super(3+)) crystals with Yb super(3+) concentrations between 20 and 99.5 mol% were synthesized by a modified thermal coprecipitation method. The effects of the Yb super(3+) sensitizer concentration on the shape, size, structure, upconversion luminescence intensities and dynamic luminescence lifetimes were studied in detail. The intensity of ultraviolet upconversion luminescence at 340-365 nm upon 980 nm excitation increased up to 20 times with increasing Yb super(3+) concentration. The mechanisms for the changes in morphology, size and UV upconversion emission are discussed. In addition, the effect of the Tm super(3+) concentration on the UV emission of NaYbF sub(4) crystals was investigated. The results demonstrate that the NaYbF sub(4) with Tm super(3+) concentration between 0.4 to 0.8 mol% produce the most intense UV upconversion luminescence. These crystals may find applications in e.g. UV-visible solid state lasers or as an internal UV radiation source for many photochemical reactions.
ISSN:2046-2069
DOI:10.1039/c5ra01613d