Comparison of visible fluorescence properties between sol–gel derived Er3+–Yb3+ and Er3+–Y3+ co-doped TiO2 films

Abstract Both Er3+–Yb3+ and Er3+–Y3+ co-doped TiO2 films were prepared on fused silica by sol–gel processes. The effect of doping concentration upon the up-conversion fluorescence of Yb3+–Er3+and Er3+–Y3+ co-doped TiO2 systems will be focused in this investigation. Although the influence of Yb3+ and Y3+ ions on the structural of Er3+–TiO2 host material is almost the same, different up-conversion emissions are observed. Both Er3+-doped and Er3+–Y3+ co-doped TiO2 films exhibit the up-conversion emission with green and red light. However, much stronger intensity of red light relative to green light is observed for the Er3+–Yb3+ co-doped TiO2 system. For Er3+ (5 mol%)–Y3+ co-doped TiO2 samples, the relative intensity ratio (IR/IG) rapidly decreases with the increase of Y3+ concentration above 10 mol%. On the contrary, the relative intensity ratio (IR/IG) increases with increasing Yb3+ concentration for Er3+ (5 mol%)–Yb3+ co-doped TiO2 samples. The up-conversion emission in the Er3+–Y3+ co-doped TiO2 system belongs to a two-photon absorption up-conversion process. However, the overall up-conversion efficiency in the Er3+–Yb3+ co-doped TiO2 system could be contributed from the complicated mechanisms.