Zn3-xMnxTeO6的晶体结构与吸收光谱和磁性研究

本工作主要研究Mn ²⁺离子掺杂的类刚玉系氧化物Zn₃TeO₆(0<x≤2.0)的晶体结构与光学性质和磁性的变化。Zn_3-xMn_xTeO₆粉末样品通过固相反应合成。Mn掺杂量的相图表明, x<1.0时保持单斜(C2/c)结构, 1.0≤x≤1.6为单斜(C2/c)和三方六面体混合相(R-3), x≥1.8时完全转变为R-3相, 且x=2.0时形成ZnMn₂TeO₆, Te-O和Mn/Zn-O键长增大, 八面体发生更大畸变。X射线粉末衍射结构精修也表明R-3相中Zn/MnO₆为畸变八面体。随着Mn ²⁺掺杂含量的增加, Zn_3-xMn_xTeO₆系列化合物不仅结构发生变化, 其颜色也由浅变深。紫外吸收光谱中随着掺杂浓度的增加, 400~550 nm处的吸收增强, 样品的光学带隙也由3.25 eV (x=0.1)逐渐减小到2.08 eV (x=2.0), 分析表明, 可见区吸收的增强是源于MnO₆八面体中Zn/MnO₆八面体中Mn ²⁺离子的d-d跃迁, 导致样品由浅黄色逐渐变为暗黄色。 磁性测试表明, 固溶体的反铁磁转变温度随着Mn ²⁺掺杂量的提高而逐渐增加, 且掺入的Mn ²⁺离子以高自旋态 存在。     

Yb to Er energy transfer and rate-equations formalism in the eye safe laser material Yb:Er:Ca2Al2SiO7

Rate equations formalism is used to predict the population ratio of the Er^{3+ 4}I_13/2 levels involved in the 1.55 μm laser transition in the Yb:Er:CAS laser materials. An effective Yb → Er energy transfer, favourable to the Er³⁺ 1.55 μm laser emission, is demonstrated in this laser host. Indeed, the Yb → Er transfer and the Er → Yb back transfer rates are calculated to be 6 x 10⁻¹⁶ and 0.45 x 10⁻¹⁶ cm³ s⁻¹, respectively. Attempts of codoping the system with Nd³⁺, Eu³⁺ and Ce³⁺ have been realised in order to increase the population of the Er^{3+ 4}I_13/2 laser emitting level. Best results are obtained with Ce³⁺ ion since in the sample containing 6 x 10²⁰ Ce³⁺/cm³, the Er^{3+ 4}I_11/2 level lifetime is divided by a factor of 3 while the Er^{3+ 4}I_13/2 fluorescence lifetime remains unaffected. On the contrary, codoping with Nd³⁺ or Eu³⁺ ions simultaneously decreases the Er^{3+ 4}I_11/2 and ⁴I_13/2 kinetics parameters. The role of the other parameters such as Yb/Er concentrations ratios is also discussed.     

Synthesis and the luminescent properties of europium-activated Ca2SnO4 phosphors

The synthesis and photoluminescent (PL) properties of calcium stannate crystals doped with europium grown by mechanically activated in a high energy vibro-mill have been investigated. The characteristics of Ca₂SnO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors were found to depend on the amounts of europium ions. The XRD profiles revealed that the system, (Ca_1−xEu_x)₂SnO₄, could form stable solid solutions in the composition range of x = 0–7% after being calcined at 1200 °C. The calcined powders emit bright red luminescence centered at 618 nm due to ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ electric dipole transition. Both XRD data and the emission ratio of (⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂)/(⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁) reveal that the site symmetry of Eu³⁺ ions decreases with increasing doping concentration. The maximum PL intensity has been obtained for 7 mol% concentration of Eu³⁺ in Ca₂SnO₄.     

In situ co-precipitation synthesis and photoluminescence of YxGd1−xVO4:Tm microcrystalline phosphors by hybrid precursors

Y_xGd_1−xVO₄:Tm³⁺ (5 mol%) phosphors were prepared by in situ co-precipitation technology with the different content ratio of Y/Gd (x = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, respectively). During the process, rare earth coordination polymers with o-hydroxylbenzoate were used as precursors, composing with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as dispersing media. After heat-treatment of the resulting multicomponent hybrid precursors at 900 °C, the samples were obtained. SEM indicated the particles present good crystalline state, whose crystalline grain sizes were about 0.2–2 μm. Under the excitation of 257 nm, all the materials show the characteristic emission of Tm³⁺ which is the strong blue emission centered at 475 nm originating from ¹G₄ → ³H₆ of Tm³⁺. Besides this, concentration quenching appears in the system of YVO₄:Tm³⁺ and GdVO₄:Tm³⁺. And when x reaches 0.5, the system of Y_xGd_1−xVO₄:Tm³⁺ shows the strongest blue emission.     

Energy transfer luminescence in (Eu,Nd) : tellurite glass

Here, we bring out an infrared transmitting new optical glass based on TeO₂ added with AlF₃ and LiF, containing dual rare earth ions (Eu³⁺,Nd³⁺) as the dopants with a purpose to examine their luminescence and also the decay times pertaining to a prominent transition of Eu³⁺ (⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ at 615 nm) as a function of temperature both in the presence and absence of Nd³⁺ ions. The energy transfer rates (W_tr), critical distances (R₀) and transfer efficiencies (η_tr) have been evaluated based on the measured lifetime data of this glass.     

Frequency dependent electrical conductivity and dielectric relaxation behavior in amorphous (90V2O5–10Bi2O3) oxide semiconductors doped with SrTiO3

We report on the experimental results of frequency dependent a.c. conductivity and dielectric constant of SrTiO₃ doped 90V₂O₅–10Bi₂O₃ semiconducting oxide glasses for wide ranges of frequency (500–10⁴ Hz) and temperature (80–400 K). These glasses show very large dielectric constants (10²–10⁴) compared with that of the pure base glass (≈10²) without SrTiO₃ and exhibit Debye-type dielectric relaxation behavior. The increase in dielectric constant is considered to be due to the formation of microcrystals of SrTiO₃ and TiO₂ in the glass matrix. These glasses are n-type semiconductors as observed from the measurements of the thermoelectric power. Unlike many vanadate glasses, Long's overlapping large polaron tunnelling (OLPT) model is found to be most appropriate for fitting the experimental conductivity data, while for the undoped V₂O₅–Bi₂O₃ glasses, correlated barrier hopping conduction mechanism is valid. This is due to the change of glass network structure caused by doping base glass with SrTiO₃. The power law behavior (σ_ac=A(ω^s) with s<1) is, however, followed by both the doped and undoped glassy systems. The model parameters calculated are reasonable and consistent with the change of concentrations (x).     

无容器制备Er3+/Yb3+共掺La2O3-TiO2-ZrO2玻璃及其上转换发光研究

利用无容器技术制备了(La_0.94-xEr_0.06Yb_x)(Ti_0.95Zr_0.05)_2.25O₆(x=0~0.24, 间隔0.04)球状透明玻璃, 其稀土离子掺杂浓度最大值达到30%。通过DTA分析发现, 玻璃具有很好的热稳定性, x=0时玻璃化转变温度T_g和析晶起始温度T_o分别为818℃和906℃, ΔT(ΔT= T_o-T_g)为88℃, 玻璃形成能力较低。随着Yb³⁺浓度提高, T_g、T_o和ΔT逐渐下降, 说明Yb³⁺降低了玻璃的热稳定性和形成能力。利用紫外可见分光光度计测定了样品的吸收/透过光谱, 玻璃在975 nm具有很强的吸收峰, 表明Yb³⁺可以有效提高玻璃对入射光的吸收强度; 在可见光范围内除特征吸收外具有近70%的透过率, 说明玻璃具有良好的透可见光性能, 有望获得高强上转换发光输出。上转换荧光光谱研究表明: 在980 nm激光泵浦下, 获得了中心位于535、554和672 nm处的绿、红发光带, x=0.16的发光最强, 672 nm处的红光强度是x=0的近130倍。上转换发光强度与泵浦功率关系的分析表明: 535、554 nm处的绿光和672 nm处的红光发光均是双光子发光过程。     

Optical properties, fluorescence mechanisms and energy transfer in Tm, Ho and Tm -Ho doped near-infrared laser glasses, sensitized by Yb

The optical properties of the rare elements Tm³⁺, Ho³⁺ and Yb³⁺ were systematically investigated in various glasses. The Tm³⁺ doped aluminozircofluoride glass shows higher quantum efficiency, longer lifetime and stronger fluorescence intensity than Tm³⁺ doped YSGG crystal and other Tm³⁺ doped glasses for the ³H₄ → ³H₆ transition. Similar quantum efficiency, longer lifetime and stronger fluorescence intensity were also found in Ho³⁺ doped aluminozircofluoride glass for the ⁵I₇ → ⁵I₈ transition. The higher quantum efficiencies of Tm³⁺ and Ho³⁺ in aluminozircofluoride glass are due to the longer lifetime and the lower phonon energy. The fluorescence mechanisms and energy transfer in the Yb³⁺ -Tm³⁺ system, Yb³⁺ -Ho³⁺ system and Yb³⁺ - Tm³⁺ -Ho³⁺ system were studied. The very strong fluorescence intensities in the Yb³⁺ -Tm³⁺ system for Tm³⁺ and the Yb³⁺ -Tm³⁺ -Ho³⁺ system for Ho³⁺ which are 1.68 times that of Tm³⁺ doped YSGG crystal and 2.25 times that of Tm³⁺---Ho³⁺ codoped YSGG crystal are attributed to the efficient Yb³⁺ → Tm³⁺, Yb³⁺ → Ho³⁺ and Tm³⁺ → Ho³⁺ energy transfer processes. The fluorescence processes are described by cross relaxations of ²F_5/2 → ³H₅ → ³H₄ → ³H₆ → ²F_7/2 and²F_5/2 → ³H₅ (or ²F_5/2 → ⁵I₆ → ³H₅) → ³H₄ → ⁵I₇ → ⁵I₈ → ³H₆ → ²F_7/2.     

混合尖晶石型Zn6Ga8TiO20:Cr3+荧光粉的合成、结构表征与发光性能

采用高温固相法合成新型红色荧光粉Zn₆Ga_8-xTiO₂₀:xCr³⁺。用XRD、XRF和TEM对样品的成分和晶体结构进行表征, 发现所合成的荧光粉为单一的混合尖晶石结构, Cr³⁺能有效地掺杂进入基质Zn₆Ga₈TiO₂₀中, 并占据八面体格位。荧光光谱分析表明, 激发谱由四个峰组成, 峰值分别为281、337、420和555 nm, 其中281 nm对应Cr³⁺离子的⁴A₂→⁴T₁(4P)跃迁, 337 nm来自O^2-的2p轨道电子向Ga³⁺的4s4p轨道迁移跃迁, 420和555 nm分别对应Cr³⁺离子的⁴A₂→⁴T₁和⁴A₂→⁴T_2g的跃迁。发射光谱是由²E→⁴A₂的跃迁辐射零声子线(689 nm, R锐线)、处于畸变的环境中Cr³⁺发射的N线(696 nm)以及由晶格振动导致的声子伴随发射峰组成。这种荧光粉是一种可能应用在白光LED上的红色荧光粉。     

(Lu0.5In0.5)2O3:Tm3+,Yb3+超细粉末的合成和上转换发光

先用液相沉淀技术合成Lu/In/Tm/Yb四元体系水合碱式碳酸盐类沉淀前驱体,然后将其在1100℃煅烧制备出一系列类球状平均粒度约为110 nm的[(Lu_0.5In_0.5)_0.999-xTm_0.001Yb_x]₂O₃ (x=0~0.05)氧化物固溶体。在980 nm泵浦激光激励下这种氧化物粉体在可见光区发射出强烈的蓝青光(450~510 nm,源于Tm³⁺离子4f¹²电子组态内¹D₂→³H₆,³F₄电子跃迁)和较弱的红光(650~670 nm,源于Tm³⁺离子的¹G₄→³F₄电子跃迁),二者的上转换过程均为双光子吸收。随着Yb³⁺离子浓度的提高1931CIE色坐标上的发射光颜色逐渐由绿光(0.31, 0.54)移向蓝光(0.01, 0.19)。Yb³⁺离子共掺提高了Tm³⁺离子的上转换发光强度,其最佳含量为2.5%。发射474 nm蓝光和654 nm红光的粉体,其荧光寿命分别约为0.84和0.97 ms。     

Fabrication and characterization of (1−x)SrBi2Ta2O9–xBi3TaTiO9 layered structure solid solution thin films for ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) applications

We report on the properties of (1−x)SrBi₂Ta₂O₉–xBi₃TaTiO₉ solid solution thin films for ferroelectric non-volatile memory applications. The solid solution thin films fabricated by modified metalorganic solution deposition technique showed much improved properties compared to SrBi₂Ta₂O₉. A pyrochlore free crystalline phase was obtained at a low annealing temperature of 600°C and grain size was found to be considerably increased for the solid solution compositions. The film properties were found to be strongly dependent on the composition and annealing temperatures. The measured dielectric constant of the solid solution thin films was in the range 180–225 for films with 10–50% of Bi₃TaTiO₉ content in the solid solution. Ferroelectric properties of (1−x)SrBi₂Ta₂O₉–xBi₃TaTiO₉ thin films were significantly improved compared to SrBi₂Ta₂O₉. For example, the observed remanent polarization (2P_r) and coercive field (E_c) values for films with 0.7SrBi₂Ta₂O₉–0.3Bi₃TaTiO₉ composition, annealed at 650°C, were 12.4 μC/cm² and 80 kV/cm, respectively. The solid solution thin films showed less than 5% decay of the polarization charge after 10¹⁰ switching cycles and good memory retention characteristics after about 10⁶ s of memory retention. The improved microstructural and ferroelectric properties of (1−x)SrBi₂Ta₂O₉–xBi₃TaTiO₉ thin films compared to SrBi₂Ta₂O₉, especially at lower annealing temperatures, suggest their suitability for high density FRAM applications.     

硅铬共掺杂尖晶石长余辉材料Zn1+xGa2-2xSixO4:Cr3+中近红外余辉的增强及陷阱分布分析

本论文基于硅铬共掺杂, 合成得到了一种尖晶石长余辉材料Zn_1+xGa_2-2xSi_xO₄:Cr ³⁺。实验采用高温固相法, 按照设计的化学计量比精确称量ZnO、Ga₂O₃、SiO₂和Cr₂O₃等原料, 制备了一系列硅铬共掺杂的镓酸锌尖晶石长余辉材料, 其化学式为Zn_1+xGa_2-2xSi_xO₄:Cr ³⁺(x=0, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.5, 1)。实验结果表明: 采用硅铬共掺杂方式后, 引入合适浓度的硅离子可有效改善余辉性能。当x=0.2时, 样品余辉强度最佳, 相比ZnGa₂O₄:Cr ³⁺增强了3倍, 并且余辉持续时间长达24 h。进一步的陷阱分布分析表明, 在ZnGa₂O₄基质基础上引入硅掺杂, 可有效调控不同陷阱深度的分布。即在丰富的反位缺陷基础上, 硅的共掺杂可增加不等价替换缺陷和填隙缺陷等, 并可调控禁带宽度及缺陷形成, 从而实现改善余辉性能的目的。     

Sc掺杂Nd:CaF2激光晶体的结构及其光谱性能参数

采用温度梯度法生长了0.5at% Nd、xat% Sc:CaF₂(x=0, 2, 5, 8)系列晶体, 测试了晶体的吸收光谱、荧光光谱和荧光寿命。研究发现发射强度和荧光寿命随着Sc³⁺离子浓度的增加而提高。通过改变Sc³⁺离子的浓度发现, 当掺杂5at% Sc³⁺时可以获得最大的吸收截面为1.42×10^-20 cm²。另外, 掺入Sc³⁺使共掺晶体在吸收光谱796 nm处产生新峰。综上, 通过调节Sc³⁺离子浓度, 可以改变Nd³⁺离子的局域结构, 优化晶体的光谱性能。     

紫外光激发Ce3+掺YVO4蓝光发射性能研究

利用提拉法生长了YVO₄和掺2.0at% CeO₂(或Ce₂(CO₃)₃)的YVO₄: Ce³⁺晶体。样品的XRD测试表明Ce³⁺代替Y³⁺进入晶格, Ce³⁺的加入并没有影响YVO₄的晶格结构。XPS测试显示YVO₄: Ce³⁺晶体中Ce离子3d分裂为882.0、885.8、902.9、908.0和915.9 eV等5个峰, 峰位表明样品中铈离子是以Ce³⁺和Ce⁴⁺两种价态形式存在。YVO₄和YVO₄: Ce³⁺激发谱都呈现出260~360 nm宽带激发, 此激发带源于基质中VO₄^3-离子团的配体O到V的电荷迁移吸收。使用325 nm的紫外线激发时, 两种样品均可发出以440 nm 为中心的宽带蓝光,其中YVO₄发射峰应归属于VO₄^3-离子团中³T₂→¹A₁和³T₁→¹A₁跃迁; 而YVO₄: Ce³⁺的蓝光发射则来源于Ce³⁺的5d→4f 的跃迁。分析可知YVO₄: Ce³⁺中VO₄^3-的π轨道和Ce³⁺的电子波函数能有效地重叠, 使得VO₄^3-和Ce³⁺可通过交换作用有效地向Ce³⁺传递能量, 可大幅提高Ce³⁺的蓝光发射强度。实验结果显示YVO₄: Ce³⁺可作为UV-LED管芯激发的白光发光二极管用高亮度蓝色发光材料。     

Temperature dependencies of excited states lifetimes and relaxation rates of 3–5 phonon (4–6 μm) transitions in the YAG, LuAG and YLF crystals doped with trivalent holmium, thulium, and erbium

The temperature dependencies of the nanosecond multiphonon relaxation (MR) rates of the ³F₃ state of Tm³⁺ in the YLF crystal and of the ⁵F₅ state of Ho³⁺ ion in the YAG and LuAG crystals and of the microsecond MR rates of the ⁴F_9/2 (²H_9/2) state of Er³⁺ ions in YLF were measured in the wide temperature range using direct laser excitation and selective fluorescence kinetics decay registration. For YLF the observed relations are explained by 4-phonon process in the frame of a single-frequency model with hω_eff=450±30 cm⁻¹ for the ³F₃ state of Tm³⁺ and by 5-phonon process with hω_eff=445 cm⁻¹ for the ⁴F_9/2 (²H_9/2) state of Er³⁺. For YAG and LuAG crystals these dependencies are explained by the 3-phonon process with hω_eff=630 cm⁻¹. The decrease of the relaxation rate with the temperature in the range from 13 to 80 K was observed for the ⁴F_9/2 (²H_9/2) state of Er³⁺ in the YLF crystal. It is explained by the redistribution of excited electronic states population of erbium ions over the higher lying Stark levels with different MR probabilities. A good fit of experimental temperature dependence (including the dropping part of the experimental curve) was obtained for single-frequency model (hω_eff=450 cm⁻¹) with W₀₁=8.0×10⁴ s⁻¹ and W₀₂=4.7×10⁴ s⁻¹ accounting Boltzmann distribution of population over two excited Stark levels of the excited state of erbium ions. Employment of this model improves the fit between the experiment and the theory for the ⁵F₅ state of Ho³⁺ ion in YAG as well. Strong influence of the parameters of the non-linear theory of MR, i.e. the reduced matrix elements U^(k) of electronic transitions and the phonon factor of crystal matrix η on the spontaneous MR rates was observed experimentally. The smaller these parameters the slower the spontaneous MR W₀. This fact can be used for searching new active crystal laser media for the mid-IR generation.     

Doping and electrical characteristics of in-situ heavily B-doped Si1−x−yGexCy films epitaxially grown using ultraclean LPCVD

Doping and electrical characteristics of in-situ heavily B-doped Si_1−x−yGe_xC_y (0.22<x<0.6, 0<y<0.02) films epitaxially grown on Si(100) were investigated. The epitaxial growth was carried out at 550°C in a SiH₄–GeH₄–CH₃SiH₃–B₂H₆–H₂ gas mixture using an ultraclean hot-wall low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) system. It was found that the deposition rate increased with increasing GeH₄ partial pressure, and only at high GeH₄ partial pressure did it decrease with increasing B₂H₆ as well as CH₃SiH₃ partial pressures. With the B₂H₆ addition, the Ge and C fractions scarcely changed and the B concentration (C_B) increased proportionally. The C fraction increased proportionally with increasing CH₃SiH₃ partial pressures. These results can be explained by the modified Langmuir-type adsorption and reaction scheme. In B-doped Si_1−x−yGe_xC_y with y=0.0054 or below, the carrier concentration was nearly equal to C_B up to approximately 2×10²⁰ cm⁻³ and was saturated at approximately 5×10²⁰ cm⁻³, regardless of the Ge fraction. The B-doped Si_1−x−yGe_xC_y with high Ge and C fractions contained some electrically inactive B even at the lower C_B region. Resistivity measurements show that the existence of C in the film enhances alloy scattering. The discrepancy between the observed lattice constant and the calculated value at the higher Ge and C fraction suggests that the B and C atoms exist at the interstitial site more preferentially.     

Blue, green and 0.8 μm Tm, Ho doped upconversion laser glasses, sensitized by Yb

To obtain efficient upconversion laser glass, the optical properties of Tm³⁺ and Ho³⁺ were investigated in various glasses. Fluoride glass was selected as base glass for upconversion. The efficient upconversion fluorescences corresponding to the ¹G₄→³H₆ and ³H₄→³H₆ transitions of Tm³⁺ and the ⁵S₂→⁵I₈ transition of Ho³⁺ were observed in Yb³⁺-Tm³⁺ and Yb³⁺-Ho³⁺ doped aluminozircofluoride glasses excited at 980 nm. The very stronge blue and green emission light can be observed visually. The upconversion processes observed were two-photon processes for ³F₄→³H₆, ⁵S₂→⁵I₈ transitions and three-photon processes for the ¹G₄→³H₆ transition and can be described by a rate equation model. The energy transfer and energy back-transfer were analyzed in Yb³⁺-Tm³⁺ and Yb³⁺-Ho³⁺ systems. The relationship between emission intensity, pumping intensity and dopant concentrations is described using a rate equation model and shows good agreement with experiments. The dynamics of excited state ( ) is also analyzed with the diffusion-limited model based on Yokota-Tanimoto theory.     

Preparation and optical properties of sol–gel derived Er-doped Al2O3–Ta2O5 films

Thin films of the system xAl₂O₃–(100 − x)Ta₂O₅–1Er₂O₃ were prepared by a sol–gel method and a dip-coating technique. The influences of the composition and the crystallization of the films on Er³⁺ optical properties were investigated. Results of X-ray diffraction indicated that the crystallization temperature of Ta₂O₅ increased from 800 to 1000 °C with increased values of x. In crystallized films, the intensities of the visible fluorescence and upconversion fluorescence tend to decrease with an increase in x values, due to the high phonon energy of Al₂O₃; the strongest fluorescence is observed in a crystallized film for x = 4 heat treated at 1000 °C. In amorphous films obtained by heat treatment at relatively low temperatures the Er³⁺ fluorescence could not be observed because strong fluorescence from organic residues remaining in the films thoroughly covered the Er³⁺ fluorescence. On the other hand, the Er³⁺ upconversion fluorescence in the amorphous films was observed to be stronger than that in the crystallized films. The strongest upconversion fluorescence is observed in an amorphous film for x = 75 heat treated at 800 °C.     

Optical properties of rare earth ion (Nd, Er and Tb)-doped alumina films prepared by the sol–gel method

Rare earth ion (Nd³⁺, Er³⁺ and Tb³⁺)-doped alumina films were prepared by the sol–gel method using aqueous alumina sol. The effects of dopant concentration and treatment temperature on the optical properties, absorption and emission were examined for the doped films. Alumina films prepared by this method gave a high dopant concentration (0–15 mol% per alumina). Significant concentration quenching did not occur in this concentration range. The emissions from ⁵D₃ and ⁵D₄ of Tb³⁺-doped film reflected sensitively a matrix environment around Tb³⁺ ions. Er³⁺- and Nd³⁺-doped alumina films resonantly excited by cw Ti–sapphire laser (800 nm) showed upconversion emission at room temperature. The former gave 548 nm (⁴S_3/2→⁴I_15/2) and 640 nm (⁴F_9/2→⁴I_11/2) signals, and the latter 640 nm (⁴G_7/2→⁴I_11/2), which were dependent on alumina.     

Partition, luminescence and energy transfer of Er/Yb ions in oxyfluoride glass ceramic containing CaF2 nano-crystals

A complete spectroscopic investigation of energy transfer processes in oxyfluoride glass ceramics containing CaF₂ nano-crystals doped with various amounts of Er³⁺ and Yb³⁺ was reported. An enhancement of the 1.53 μm emission and infrared to visible up-conversion fluorescence was confirmed experimentally due to efficient non-radiative energy transfer from Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺ ions concentrated in CaF₂ nano-crystals. The efficiency of Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺ energy transfer in excess of 85% was obtained for 0.5 mol% Er³⁺/2.0 mol% Yb³⁺ co-doped glass ceramic. Using rate equation formulism, the coefficient of Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺ energy transfer was determined to be about 3.5 times higher than that of Er³⁺ to Yb³⁺ energy back transfer, which is sufficient to provide high ⁴I_11/2 population of Er³⁺ to improve the fluorescence of the co-doped glass ceramics.