Tunable ultraviolet/visible to near-infrared down-conversion luminescence in the Er3+, Yb3+ co-doped (Y0.88La0.09Zr0.03)2O3 transparent ceramics

Abstract Herein, we report an efficient ultraviolet/visible to near-infrared (NIR) down-conversion luminescence phenomenon in transparent Er 3+ , Yb 3+ co-doped (Y 0.88 La 0.09 Zr 0.03 ) 2 O 3 ceramics. Almost fully densified (Y 0.88 La 0.09 Zr 0.03 ) 2 O 3 transparent ceramic has been prepared by vacuum sintering at 1800 °C with different contents of Er 3+ and Yb 3+ elements. The intensity ratio of Yb 3+ : 2 F 5/2 → 2 F 7/2 emission (∼1000 nm) to the Er 3+ : 4 I 13/2 → 4 I 15/2 emission (∼1550 nm) has been tuned by adjusting the excitation wavelength. Phonon-assist quantum cutting from the 4 G 11/2 level of Er 3+ with two energy transfer (ET) processes to Yb 3+ has been determined, which enhances the Yb 3+ emission around the wavelength of 1000 nm. It is found that when one photon around 379 nm is absorbed, two photons around 1000 nm will be emitted, and hence the quantum efficiency is estimated to be ∼182% in this transparent ceramics. The mechanism of the visible to near-infrared (NIR) down-conversion luminescence in the Er 3+ , Yb 3+ co-doped (Y 0.88 La 0.09 Zr 0.03 ) 2 O 3 ceramics has been discussed.