The role of Nb in intensity increase of Er ion upconversion luminescence in zirconia
- Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, 8 Kengaraga Str., Riga LV1063 (Latvia)
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Riga Technical University, Salaspils-1 LV2169 (Latvia)
It is found that Nb co-doping increases the luminescence and upconversion luminescence intensity in rare earth doped zirconia. Er and Yb-doped nanocrystalline samples with or without Nb co-doping were prepared by sol-gel method and thermally annealed to check for the impact of phase transition on luminescence properties. Phase composition and grain sizes were examined by X-ray diffraction; the morphology was checked by scanning- and high-resolution transmission electron microscopes. Both steady-state and time-resolved luminescence were studied. Comparison of samples with different oxygen vacancy concentrations and different Nb concentrations confirmed the known assumption that oxygen vacancies are the main agents for tetragonal or cubic phase stabilization. The oxygen vacancies quench the upconversion luminescence; however, they also prevent agglomeration of rare-earth ions and/or displacement of rare-earth ions to grain surfaces. It is found that co-doping with Nb ions significantly (>20 times) increases upconversion luminescence intensity. Hence, ZrO{sub 2}:Er:Yb:Nb nanocrystals may show promise for upconversion applications.
- OSTI ID:
- 22304200
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 115, Issue 21; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ANNEALING
CRYSTALS
DOPED MATERIALS
ERBIUM IONS
LUMINESCENCE
NANOSTRUCTURES
NIOBIUM ADDITIONS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
STABILIZATION
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
SURFACES
TIME RESOLUTION
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
YTTERBIUM ADDITIONS
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES