Crystallization behavior and up-conversion optical characteristics based on NaZnPO4: Yb3+/Tb3+/Ho3+ nanocrystals embedded in glass matrix

Abstract

Yb3+/Tb3+/Ho3+ tri-doped transparent glass ceramic (GC) embracing orthorhombic NaZnPO4 nano-particles was triumphantly prepared on the basis of melting quenching and pursuant controllable crystallization approach. The NaZnPO4 nano-crystals were identified by XRD and TEM. The up-conversion (UC) emission intensities of Tb3+ and Ho3+ in the GC grew by more than the forerunner glass counterpart. The crystallization mode of the prepared glass was one-dimensional crystallization mechanism its confirmed by differential thermal analysis. The glass with transmittance of about 90% and the GC with transmittance of about 62–76% maintain comparatively high transparency in the visible light range. The tunable colors of UC luminescence can be carried out by transforming the doping concentration of Tb3+, and energy transfer of Ho3+→Tb3+ exists. The UC luminescence mechanism of GC was proved to be a multiphoton process. Furthermore, the GC sample has great thermal and chroma stability with Chromaticity shift between 4 × 10−3 and 8 × 10−3 in the temperature extent of 298–498 K. The results make clear that the Yb3+/Tb3+/Ho3+ tri-doped NaZnPO4 GC might be promising candidates for advanced UC luminescent materials.