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Published on: September 12, 2014
Ultraviolet upconversion emissions of Gd3+.
Chunyan Cao1, Weiping Qin, Jisen Zhang
1State Key Laboratory on Integrated Optoelectronics, College of Electronic Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
Optics Letters
|April 17, 2008
Summary
Researchers achieved ultraviolet (UV) upconversion emissions using novel nanocrystals. This study demonstrates the shortest wavelength UV emission generated from infrared light, highlighting potential applications in materials science.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Solid State Physics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Upconversion (UC) luminescence allows conversion of lower-energy photons (infrared) to higher-energy photons (visible or UV).
- Lanthanide-doped materials are extensively studied for their unique UC properties.
- Achieving UV UC emissions is challenging but offers potential for advanced applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize Y(0.795-x)Gd(x)Yb(0.2)Tm(0.005)F(3) nanocrystals.
- To investigate UV upconversion emissions under 980 nm excitation.
- To explore the role of energy transfer in populating excited states for UV emission.
Main Methods:
- Hydrothermal synthesis method for Y(0.795-x)Gd(x)Yb(0.2)Tm(0.005)F(3) nanocrystals.
- Spectroscopic analysis under 980 nm laser excitation.
- Analysis of UC emission spectra in the UV range (270-320 nm).
Main Results:
- Observed UV UC emissions in the range of 270-320 nm.
- Identified emissions originating from Gd(3+) and Tm(3+) ion transitions.
- Demonstrated efficient energy transfer from Tm(3+) to Gd(3+) ions.
- Reported the shortest wavelength UC emission achieved from the infrared region.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized Y(0.795-x)Gd(x)Yb(0.2)Tm(0.005)F(3) nanocrystals exhibit UV upconversion luminescence.
- Energy transfer mechanisms involving Tm(3+) and Gd(3+) are critical for UV emission.
- This work presents a new benchmark for short-wavelength upconversion, opening avenues for UV-based technologies.
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