Cooperative Energy Transfer and Frequency Upconversion in Yb3+–Tb3+ and Nd3+–Yb3+–Tb3+ Codoped GdAl3(BO3)4 Phosphors

Abstract

Polycrystalline GdAl(3)(BO(3))(4) phosphors co-doped with Yb(3+)/Tb(3+) and/or Nd(3+)/Yb(3+)/Tb(3+) have been synthesized by combustion method. Upon excitation with a 980 nm laser diode, an intense green upconversion luminescence has been observed in GdAl(3)(BO(3))(4):Yb,Tb phosphor. The quadratic dependence of the luminescence on the pump-laser power indicating a cooperative energy transfer process. Meanwhile, it is noticed that upon excitation with 808 nm laser diode, intense luminescence has clearly been detected in GdAl(3)(BO(3))(4):Nd,Yb,Tb phosphor. The luminescence intensity exhibits also a quadratic dependence on incident pump-laser power. However, no green-emission has been observed in GdAl(3)(BO(3))(4) phosphors co-doped with Yb(3+)/Tb(3+) or Nd(3+)/Tb(3+) respectively upon excited at 808 nm laser diode. A proposed upconversion mechanism involving energy transfer from Nd(3+) to Yb(3+), and then a cooperative energy transfer process from two excited Yb(3+) to Tb(3+) has been presented.