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Series of Tm3+/Yb3+ co-doped GdF3 powders were synthesized through an easy and mild hydrothermal method. The phase and purity of powders were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) (Rigaku RU-200b). The morphologies of the samples were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE SEM) (Hitachi S-4800). The ultraviolet (UV) up-conversion (UC)emission spectra were recorded by a fluorescence spectrophotometer (Hitachi F-4500) with a 980 nm semiconductor continuous wave laser diode as the excitation source. And the luminescent dynamics was measured by excitation with 980 nm using an optical parameter oscillator (OPO) laser pumped by a pulsed Nd : YAG laser with a pulse duration of 10 ns, repetition frequency of 10 Hz, and the signal was recorded by using a monochromator and an oscillograph. Under 980 nm excitation, Gd3+, acting as a kind of host ion in the studied system, and its UV UC emissions were observed and studied. The luminescent dynamics of the characteristic emission of Gd3+ (311.6 nm, 6P7/2 --8S7/2) was explored and studied. The luminescent dynamics analysis results indicated that, on UV UC emissions of Gd3+, Yb3+ ions served as primary sensitizer ions successively transferring energy to Tm3+ to populate the 3P2 level. Then, Tm3+ ions served as secondary sensitizer ions transferring energy to populate the multiple 6 I(J) states of Gd3+ 3P2 --3H6 (Tm3+): 8S7/2 --6 I(J) (Gd3+). Further, 6D(J) levels were populated through other energy transfer processes between Gd3+ and Yb3+ or Tm3+. Finally, UV UC emissions from the excited 6D9/2, 6 I(J), 6P5/2, and 6P7/2 states to the ground state 8S7/2 were observed. Meanwhile, Tm3+ acted as activator in its own UC emissions, and the article did not put emphasis on those except the 3P2 and 1 I6 levels to the ground state 3 H6 transitions. Especially, the dependences of UV UC emissions of Gd3+ on the Yb3+ concentrations, the Tm3+ concentrations, the annealing temperatures, and the excitation power densities of the 980 nm semiconductor continuous wave laser diode were studied, too.

Novel red phosphor, Eu3+ -doped oxyphosphate (La3 PO7:Eu3+), was synthesized by a solid state method under high temperature. All the starting materials were analytical grade. La2O3, EuO3 and (NH4)2HPO4 weighed in appropriated molar ratios and ground in an agate mortar. Then the powder was treated under 1000 degrees C. The crystal phase of La3PO7:Eu3+ was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) using a Cu target radiation resource (lamda = 1.54078 ?) and exhibited prominent peaks accordant with JCPDS standard card (33-0720) of La3PO7 in monoclinic phase. Emission and excitation spectra of La3PO7:Eu3+ were recorded at room temperature using a fluorescence spectrometer (Hitachi F-4500). Under 254 nm excitation, intense red fluorescence was observed from La3PO7:Eu3+, which was assigned to the (5)D0--(7)F2 transition of Eu3+ ions. The intensity of the (5)D0--(7)F2 transition is stronger than that of the (5)D0--(7)F1 transition, showing that the Eu3+ ions were in the non-centrosym-metric sites in La3PO7. The CommissionIn-ternational DeL" Eclairage (CIE) coordinate of La3PO7:Eu3+ is (0.63,0.37) in the red area of CIE1931 XY chromaticity coordinate graph and close to that of Y2o3:Eu3+, but the cost of La3PO7 host is lower. This novel material may have potential applications in plasma display panels and Hg-free fluorescent lamps in the future.