Enhanced ultraviolet upconversion in YF3：Yb^3＋/Tm^3＋ nanocrystals

Unusual intense infrared-to-ultraviolet upconversion luminescence was observed in YF3:Yb3+(20%)/Tm3+(1%) nanocrystals under 980 nm excitation. The intense ultraviolet emissions (1I6→3H6, 1I6→3F4, and 1D2→3H6) were affirmed arising from the excitation processes of five-photon and four-photon. In comparison with the bulk sample with the same chemical compositions, ultraviolet upconversion lumi-nescence of the nanocrystals was markedly enhanced. Spectral analysis indicated that the enhancement was attributed to the decrease of Judd-Ofelt parameter Ω2, which precluded the transition rate from 3F2 to 3F4, enhanced the energy transfer process and populated the 1D2 level: 3F2→3H6 (Tm3+): 3H4→1D2 (Tm3+).     

Synthesis and upconversion luminescence properties of NaYF4：yb^3＋/Er^3＋ microspheres

Cubic NaYF4:yb3+(20%)/Er3+(1%) microspheres were synthesized by EDTA-assisted hydrothermal method. Under 980 nm exci-tation, ultraviolet (4G11/2→4I15/2), violet (2H9/2→4I15/2), grogn (4F7/2→4I15/2, 2H11/2→4I15/2, and 4S3/2→4I15/2), and red (4F9/2→4I15/2) upconversion fluorescence were observed. The number of laser photons absorbed in one upconversion excitation process, n, was determined to be 3.89, 1.61, 2.55, and 1.09 for the ultraviolet, violet, green, and red emissions, respectively. Obviously, n=3.89 indicated that a four-photon process was involved in populating the 4G11/2 state, and n=2.55 indicated that a three-photon process was involved in populating the 4F7/2/2H<11/2>4S3/2 levels. For the violet and red emissions, the population of the states 2H9/2 and 4F9/2 separately came from three-photon and two-photon proc-esses. The decrease of n was well explained by the mechanism of competition between linear decay and upconversion processes for the de-pletion of the intermediate excited states.