Judd–Ofelt analyses and luminescence of Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped transparent glass ceramics containing NaYF4 nanocrystals

Abstract

Abstract Er 3+ /Yb 3+ co-doped transparent glass ceramics containing NaYF 4 nanocrystals were prepared by melt-quenching and subsequent heating. Judd–Ofelt analyses of Er 3+ ions in the precursor glasses and glass ceramics were performed to evaluate the intensity parameters Ω 2,4,6 . The Ω 2 value of glass ceramic is smaller than that of glass, which reflects the change of Er 3+ local structure after crystallization, i.e., Er 3+ partitions into the precipitated NaYF 4 nanocrystals. Under 980 nm excitation, intense red and green upconversion luminescence induced by efficient energy transfer from Yb 3+ to Er 3+ was achieved in the glass ceramics. Based on the fluorescence decay lifetimes, the energy transfer efficiency was evaluated, with the maximum value exceeding 68% for the 1 mol% Yb 3+ /2 mol% Er 3+ co-doped sample.