Crystal structure and up-conversion luminescence properties of K3ScF6:Er3+,Yb3+ cryolite.

In this paper, K 3 ScF 6 :Er3+,Yb3+ up-conversion luminescent materials with cryolite structure were synthesized via solid-state method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) under the excitation of a 980 nm laser with different power density were used to investigate the phase structure, elemental composition, and up-conversion luminescence properties of K 3 ScF 6 :Er3+,Yb3+. The quenching concentrations of Yb3+ and Er3+ were confirmed to 0.15 and 0.05 (mol concentration) in this system, respectively. Upon 980 nm excitation, the K 3 ScF 6 :Er3+,Yb3+ showed a typical transition of Er3+ which contains two main bands in the visible region that green and red. According to the fitting result of the pump power dependence of up-conversion intensity, all the green and red up-conversion emission of K 3 ScF 6 :0.05Er3+,0.15 Yb3+ belong to the two-photon process. To better understand the origin of radiation and energy transfer mechanism of the red and green up-conversion, the possible mechanism and electron transition process were also discussed. Single-phase Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped K 3 ScF 6 with cryolite structure were synthesized. Image 1 • Single-phase Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped K 3 ScF 6 with cryolite structure was synthesized. • Structural and up-conversion properties of K 3 ScF 6 :Er3+, Yb3+ were studied. • Mechanism of up-conversion was analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]