Upconversion based tunable white-light generation in Ln:Y(2)O(3) nanocrystalline phosphor (Ln = Tm/Er/Yb)

We report the generation of efficient white light based on upconversion (UC) in Tm(3+)/Er(3+)/Yb(3+):Y(2)O(3) nanocrystalline phosphor synthesized by simple and cost effective solution combustion technique on 976 nm laser excitation. The calculated color coordinates (using 1931 CIE standard) for samples annealed at different temperatures vary from (0.16, 0.30) to (0.32, 0.33) with dopant concentration, annealing temperature and the pump power; thus providing a wide color tunability including the white one. White emission is observed even at a very low laser power (60 mW). The maximum upconversion efficiency obtained for white emission is 2.79% with the color coordinates (0.30, 0.32) at laser power of 420 mW which is quite close to the standard white color coordinates.