Intense Upconversion Luminescence of CaSc2 O4 :Ho(3+) /Yb(3+) from Large Absorption Cross Section and Energy-Transfer...

Concentration-optimized CaSc2 O4 :0.2 % Ho(3+) /10 % Yb(3+) shows stronger upconversion luminescence (UCL) than a typical concentration-optimized upconverting phosphor Y2 O3 :0.2 % Ho(3+) /10 %  b(3+) upon excitation with a 980 nm laser diode pump. The (5) F4 +(5) S2 →(5) I8 green UCL around 545 nm and (5) F5 →(5) I8 red UCL around 660 nm of Ho(3+) are enhanced by factors of 2.6 and 1.6, respectively. On analyzing the emission spectra and decay curves of Yb(3+) : (2) F5/2 →(2) F7/2 and Ho(3+) : (5) I6 →(5) I8 , respectively, in the two hosts, we reveal that Yb(3+) in CaSc2 O4 exhibits a larger absorption cross section at 980 nm and subsequent larger Yb(3+) : (2) F5/2 →Ho(3+) : (5) I6 energy-transfer coefficient (8.55×10(-17) cm(3) s(-1) ) compared to that (4.63×10(-17) cm(3) s(-1) ) in Y2 O3 , indicating that CaSc2 O4 :Ho(3+) /Yb(3+) is an excellent oxide upconverting material for achieving intense UCL.