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.     

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.     

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.     

Bi/Tm共掺TiO2-BaO-SiO2-Ga2O3玻璃光谱特性与能量转换机理研究

用高温熔融法制备了Bi、Tm、Bi/Tm掺杂TiO₂-BaO-SiO₂-Ga₂O₃玻璃系统。在808 nm激光激发下, 与Tm单掺杂玻璃相比, Bi/Tm共掺玻璃中Tm³⁺的³H₄→³F₄跃迁荧光(~1485 nm)得到了显著的增强, 而Tm³⁺的³F₄→³H₆跃迁荧光(~1810 nm)减弱。在980 nm激光激发下, Tm单掺玻璃中没有观察到Tm离子的特征发光, 而在Bi/Tm共掺玻璃中观察到Tm³⁺的³F₄→³H₆跃迁荧光(~1810 nm)。这是由于在808和980 nm激光二极管(LD)各自激发下, Bi/Tm共掺玻璃中活性Bi离子的近红外发光能量传递给Tm³⁺, 分别产生³F₄→³H₄与³H₆→³H₅跃迁所致。采用Inokuti-Hirayama模型, 分析了该玻璃体系中Bi→Tm的能量传递机理。结果表明, Bi→Tm的能量传递属于电偶极–偶极相互作用。     

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.     

Two- and three-photon upconversion of LaOBr:Er

In this work, the LaOBr:Er³⁺ (0.1%) powders were prepared by solid state reaction. The structural properties of LaOBr:Er³⁺ were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy. The results show that LaOBr:Er³⁺ has low phonon energy, which indicate that LaOBr:Er³⁺ may have high luminescent efficiency. Under excitation into ⁴I_11/2 level of Er³⁺ ions by 980 nm laser, the two- and three-photon upconverted luminescence of LaOBr:Er³⁺ were recorded. The most intense emissions were come from the ²H_11/2, ⁴S_3/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transitions. The upconversion mechanisms were studied in detail through laser power dependence, and results show that excited state absorption is responsible for the upconversion. The upconversion properties indicate that LaOBr:Er³⁺ may be used in upconversion phosphors.     

Yb3+-Tm3+共掺BiOBr纳米晶的近红外上转换发光特性研究

采用水热法合成了Yb³⁺-Tm³⁺共掺BiOBr纳米晶, 研究了其上转换发光性能。在980 nm光激发下, 样品中Tm³⁺离子实现了³H₄→³H₆、¹G₄→³F₄和¹G₄→³H₆跃迁, 进而发出强烈的近红外光(801 nm)和较弱的红光(655 nm)与蓝光(485 nm)。探讨了样品的上转换发光机理, 上转换发光强度与激发功率的关系表明在980 nm激发下Tm³⁺的蓝光和红光发射为三光子过程, 而近红外发光为双光子过程。随着Yb³⁺浓度增加, 近红外发光显著增强, 近红外光与蓝光(I_{801 nm}/I_{485 nm})的发光强度比高达71.4。研究结果表明, Yb³⁺-Tm³⁺共掺BiOBr纳米晶在生物荧光标记领域具有潜在的应用前景。     

(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。     

Yb3+,Tb3+共掺杂Sr2B2O5荧光粉的制备及其下转换发光性能的研究

采用高温固相法合成了Tb³⁺, Yb³⁺共掺杂的Sr₂B₂O₅荧光粉。通过X射线衍射(XRD)和荧光光谱(PL)对样品的物相结构和发光性质进行了表征。XRD结果表明, 合成样品为单斜结构的Sr₂B₂O₅相。分别使用543 nm和980 nm的监测波长, 得到的激发光谱均在354 nm、374 nm处有较强的激发峰, 其中374 nm处最强, 说明Sr₂B₂O₅荧光材料在近紫外光区对太阳光有很强的吸收; 在374 nm( Tb³⁺:⁷F₆→⁵D₃) 紫外光激发下, 观察到Tb³⁺: ⁵D₄→⁷F_J ( J = 6, 5, 4, 3) 可见光区发射光, 并检测到Yb³⁺: ²F_5/2→²F_7/2的近红外发射光。通过研究激发光谱和发射光谱与Yb³⁺掺杂浓度的关系, 发现在单斜晶体Sr₂B₂O₅中, Yb³⁺具有很高的猝灭浓度。     

Upconversion luminescent property and EPR study of NaGdF4:Yb3+/Tm3+ synthesized by the hydrothermal method

Water soluble upconversion (UC) luminescence hexagonal-phase NaGdF₄: Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺ nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal method. XRD, SEM, UC photoluminescence spectra and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum were used to characterize the nanoparticles. The intensity of UC emission region could be controlled through different sodium source and the fluorine source, ⁶P_J→⁸S_7/2 emission of Gd³⁺ is also observed at 310 nm. A broad spectrum with a dominant resonance at g of about 2 was observed by the EPR spectrum of the NaGdF₄:Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺ nanoparticles. The transparent NaGdF₄:Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺ solution presented naked eye-visible violet-blue light under the 980 nm LD excitation. The current work paves the way for their potential application in infrared tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).     

Nd3+掺杂的NaYF4:Yb@NaYF4:Ho上转换纳米颗粒的光谱分析

上转换纳米颗粒因具有良好的穿透深度和发光强度被广泛地应用在生物标记或生物成像中。实验制备了核壳结构的NaYF₄:Yb@NaYF₄:Ho纳米颗粒, 分散均匀, 粒径在50 nm左右。通过光谱分析可知, 该纳米颗粒可在980 nm激光激发下发射波长为650 nm为主的发射光。进一步对该核壳结构的NaYF₄:Yb@NaYF₄:Ho纳米颗粒进行Nd³⁺掺杂, 制备了可被800 nm激光激发且发射强红光的纳米颗粒。通过比较多种不同结构的Nd³⁺掺杂NaYF₄:Yb@NaYF₄:Ho纳米颗粒的荧光光谱发现, NaYF₄:Yb@NaYF₄:Ho,Nd纳米颗粒发射光最强, 表明Nd³⁺掺杂在NaYF₄:Yb@NaYF₄:Ho纳米颗粒的壳层中最佳。最后对NaYF₄:Yb³⁺50%@NaYF₄:Ho³⁺1%,Nd³⁺x%纳米颗粒Nd³⁺离子的掺杂浓度进行优化, 实验结果表明: Nd³⁺掺杂浓度为30%时,该纳米颗粒在800 nm激光激发下发光强度最强。     

Eu3+掺杂Y2O3单分散红色荧光球形颗粒的尺寸可控合成与荧光性能

结合籽晶法和添加矿化剂硝酸铵, 通过均相沉淀合成和后续煅烧实现了(Y, Eu)₂O₃单分散球形颗粒(直径范围110~550 nm)的可控合成。通过XRD、FE-SEM、TEM和PLE/PL分析等手段对产物进行了系统表征。发现采用籽晶法和添加矿化剂硝酸铵可以促进球形颗粒长大。碱式碳酸盐前驱体经600℃煅烧分解为立方晶(Y, Eu)₂O₃, 且经1000℃煅烧后(Y, Eu)₂O₃依然继承球形形貌特征。所得多晶(Y, Eu)₂O₃球形荧光颗粒在242 nm激发下于615 nm处呈现最强红色荧光发射(Eu³⁺的⁵D₀→⁷F₂跃迁)。荧光粉的荧光性能呈现明显的尺寸依存性。增大球形颗粒尺寸减小了荧光寿命(1.15~1.57 ms)和荧光不对称因子[I(⁵D₀→⁷F₂)/I(⁵D₀→⁷F₁)], 但增强了荧光发射强度。     

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.     

Spectroscopic analysis and the effects of color centers on the laser performance of Nd: CaZn2Y2Ge3O12

Spectroscopic and EPR investigations of Nd³⁺-doped CaZn₂Y₂Ge₃O₁₂ (CAZGAR) have been performed. The absorption, fluorescence, excitation spectra and fluorescence lifetime have been measured at room temperature. The Judd-Ofelt theory has been applied to the measured optical absorption intensities to predict the radiative decay rates, branching ratios, and peak stimulated emission cross section from the metastable ⁴F_3/2 state to the ⁴I_9/2 manifold. The fluorescence lifetime of the ⁴F_3/2 level of Nd³⁺ at low concentration in this host was measured to be 285 ± 10 μs, which is longer than that for Nd³⁺: YAG. Color centers located at zinc octahedral sites have been produced in these crystals by ultraviolet irradiation and have been detected by EPR techniques. The effects of the color centers on the potential laser characteristics of this materials are discussed.     

柔性Eu3+掺杂SiO2纳米纤维薄膜的制备及其发光性能

采用溶胶-凝胶法结合静电纺丝技术制备了柔性Eu³⁺掺杂SiO₂纤维薄膜, 采用SEM、XRD、FT-IR、TG和PL等测试方法对材料进行表征。Eu³⁺掺杂SiO₂纤维薄膜在热处理后纤维直径变小, 纤维表面平滑无粘连。通过控制升温速度, 纤维薄膜经热处理后仍具有较高的力学强度, 750℃热处理后其拉伸强度可达4.31 MPa, 经过多次弯曲仍能保持原样。在392.6 nm光源激发下, Eu³⁺掺杂SiO₂纤维薄膜在570~670 nm附近呈现出来自于⁵D₀→⁷F_J的发射峰。当Eu³⁺掺杂浓度为8mol%时, 经过750℃热处理后Eu³⁺掺杂SiO₂纤维薄膜的发光强度达到最大值。     

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.     

Nd3+:Lu2O3放电等离子烧结及光学性能

Lu₂O₃是具有高热导率而成为极具潜力的高功率激光介质材料。实验以商用氧化物粉体为原料, LiF为烧结助剂, 采用放电等离子烧结法制备了不同Nd³⁺掺杂浓度(C_Nd=0, 1at%, 3at%和5at%) Lu₂O₃透明陶瓷, 并研究了Nd³⁺掺杂浓度对Lu₂O₃陶瓷的物相、烧结性能、微观结构及光学性能的影响。结果表明：在高Nd³⁺浓度(5at%)掺杂后烧结样品仍为纯Lu₂O₃相;Nd³⁺掺杂对Lu₂O₃陶瓷烧结性能及微观形貌的影响有限;所有样品最终均表现出高致密性(99.5%以上)和优异的透光性能, 其中3at% Nd³⁺:Lu₂O₃的透过率最高, 在1064和2000 nm处的透过率分别为82.7和83.2%。Nd³⁺:Lu₂O₃透明陶瓷的最强发射峰位于1076和1080 nm;且随着Nd³⁺掺杂浓度的增加, 荧光强度降低, 寿命变短, 发生浓度淬灭。     

Frequency upconversion of Tm and Yb codoped YLiF4 synthesized by hydrothermal method

In this paper, YLiF₄ codoped with Tm³⁺ and Yb³⁺ ions was synthesized by hydrothermal method. Yb³⁺ concentration is fixed at 1.5%, and Tm³⁺ concentration is changed from 0.1 to 0.4%. Intense upconversion luminescence is observed when the samples are excited by 980 nm. The dependence of upconversion luminescence on Tm³⁺ concentrations is presented. The results show that upconversion luminescence increases with the Tm⁺ concentration and gets its peak at 0.3 mol%. Under the excitation of 980 nm, the blue emission of 479 nm and the red emission of 647 nm are both duo to two photons process, and the UV emission of 361 nm is attributed to the three photons process. We also analyse the upconversion mechanism and process.     

YVO4∶Eu3+,Bi3+红色荧光粉的水热合成及其荧光性能

以Y₂O₃、Eu₂O₃、Bi(NO₃)₃·H₂O、浓HNO₃、偏钒酸铵、氨水、无水乙醇和一缩二乙二醇为原料,采用聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)辅助水热法合成YVO₄: Eu³⁺, Bi³⁺纳米颗粒。使用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)、红外光谱(IR)和荧光光谱(FL)等手段对产品进行了表征和分析。结果表明：合成的样品为YVO₄: Eu³⁺, Bi³⁺纳米颗粒,均具有四方晶相结构,其微结构随反应溶液的的pH值变化。YVO₄: Eu³⁺, Bi³⁺纳米颗粒在619 nm处有较强的红光发射(电偶极跃迁⁵D₀→⁷F₂),在594 nm有较弱的橙光发射(磁偶极跃迁⁵D₀→⁷F₁)。随着Eu/Bi比值的增大材料的荧光先增强后减弱,在Eu/Bi比值为5时样品的红光发射最强。溶液的pH值影响YVO₄: Eu³⁺, Bi³⁺纳米晶的发光强度,其中pH值为10时的样品其红光发射最强。并探讨了YVO₄: Eu³⁺, Bi³⁺纳米晶的发光机理。     

Effect of heat treatment on photoluminescence behavior of BaMgAl10O17:Eu phosphors

The blue phosphor of BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺ (BAM) powders were prepared by solid-state reaction. The thermal degradation of BAM phosphor significantly reduces the intensity of the blue emission. BAM is reduced by an amount of 50% after heating at around 800 °C for 1 h. Photoluminescence (PL) excitation and emission spectra showed that the blue emission of 450 nm peak decreased with increasing annealing temperature. The ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ and ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺ were observed at 590 and 615 nm emission lines over 1100 °C. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum also detected two signals of Eu²⁺, corresponding to g=3.7156(9) for 88 mT, and g=2.9507(9) for 133 mT. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectrum decreased the intensity of Eu²⁺ for 6977 eV with increasing annealing temperature, while high-energy peak of Eu³⁺ for 6984 eV was increased. The combined use of X-ray and neutron data by the Rietveld refinement appears to support that the secondary phase of EuMgAl₁₁O₁₉ magnetoplumbite structure in BAM may be formed by heat treatment.