Color-tunable infrared-to-visible upconversion luminescence and intensified 1.54 μm near-infrared emission in Y2O3:Yb3+, Er3+, Eu3+ phosphors prepared by sol-gel method.

Y 2 O 3 :Yb3+, Er3+, Eu3+ phosphors with different Yb3+, Er3+ and Eu3+ doping concentrations were prepared by sol-gel method using glycine as a chelating agent. The effect of Yb3+/Er3+/Eu3+ doping concentrations on the upconversion and near-infrared spectral performances of the synthesized phosphors were investigated. The XRD analysis shows that the samples calcined at 1000 °C for 2 h are well-crystallized and show a pure cubic Y 2 O 3 phase. Upon excitation of 980 nm excitation source, the emission intensity of green/red upconversion and 1.54 μm near-infrared emission of the samples can be adjusted with the variation of Eu3+ doping concentrations. The samples also display a color-tunable upconversion emission with the variation of Eu3+ doping concentration and the excitation power of 980 nm laser diode. In addition, the energy transfer mechanism among Yb3+, Er3+ and Eu3+ in upconversion and 1.54 μm emission processes are also discussed. • Sol-gel synthesis of Y 2 O 3 :Yb3+, Er3+, Eu3+ phosphors. • 980 nm LD excited color-tunable upconversion luminescence. • Eu3+ doping can apparently enhance the 1.54 μm NIR emission intensity of the samples. • Applications in optical communications, eye-safe laser, display devices, solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]