Downshifting energy transfer enhancement in Ce3+, Er3+-codoped YAG photonic crystals

Abstract

This paper reports fabrication of Ce 3+ /Er 3+ -codoped YAG(Y 3 Al 5 O 12 ) downshifting photonic crystals. The effect of the photonic band gap on the downshifting Ce 3+ -Er 3+ energy transfer was studied. The Ce 3+ -Er 3+ energy transfer was enhanced because of suppressed spontaneous yellow emission of Ce 3+ . Results obtained in this work will be valuable for the foundational study of sensitized downshifting emission modification and application of downshifting optical devices in near-infrared (NIR) lasers materials. • YAG: Ce, Er with inverse opal structure was fabricated to modify the quantum cutting energy transfer by the sol-gel method. • The Ce–Er downshifting energy transfer efficiency is enhanced by suppressing the emission of Ce 3+ by photonic band gap. • The Ce 3+ .→Er 3+ energy transfer was enhanced to 38.8% and the near-infrared luminescence intensity of Er 3+ is enhanced.