The synthesis, crystal structure and multicolour up-conversion fluorescence of Yb3+/Ln(3+) (Ln = Ho, Er, Tm) codoped orthorhombic lutetium oxyfluorides
Journal
Journal of Materials Chemistry C
Journal Volume
1
Journal Issue
36
Pages
5711-5717
Date Issued
2013
Author(s)
Luo, Wenjiao
Wang, Yonggang
Chen, Yanping
Wen, Ting
Liu, Meng
Wang, Yingxia
Liao, Fuhui
Lin, Jianhua
Abstract
For the first time, undoped and Yb3+/Ln3+ (Ln = Ho, Er, Tm) codoped orthorhombic lutetium oxyfluorides have been fabricated via a facile stepwise route involving room temperature co-precipitation and a subsequent thermal decomposition procedure. The phase formation, crystal structure, particle morphologies and up-conversion (UC) luminescence were investigated by means of powder X-ray diffraction, TEM, IR, thermal and luminescence spectroscopy. It has been found that the intermediate Lu(CO 3)1-x(OH)yF1+2x-y precursor plays an essential role in the formation of the final metastable LunO n-1Fn+2 Vernier phase. Multicolour up-conversion has been achieved in the Yb3+/Tm3+, Yb3+/Ho3+ and Yb3+/Er3+ codoped samples under near-infrared excitation (λ = 980 nm) and, notably, the Yb3+/Er3+ codoping yields an almost single-band red emission at about 660 nm. A short Ln3+-Ln3+ distance combined with the multiple doping sites in the low symmetry (C1 and Cs) host lattice are considered responsible for the effective energy transfer and, therefore, the intense up-conversion emission. The present work, together with previous studies on the UC performance of Vernier phase yttrium oxyfluorides, illustrates that the Vernier phase oxyfluorides are promising up-conversion host materials for lanthanide ions in a variety of applications such as bioprobes and chromatic displays. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
SDGs
Type
journal article