Photoluminescence properties of Er3+/Yb3+ doped ZrO2 coatings formed by plasma electrolytic oxidation

Abstract

In the present work, down- and up-conversion photoluminescence properties of Er3+/Yb3+ doped ZrO2 coatings formed by plasma electrolytic oxidation of zirconium in electrolyte containing Er2O3 and Yb2O3 particles were investigated. Down-conversion PL analysis shows that emission spectra of ZrO2:Er3+/Yb3+ coatings excited with 280 nm radiation are composed of broad PL band related to ZrO2 host and bands assigned to f-f transitions of Er3+. The main PL emission bands of Er3+ at around 548 nm and 560 nm are related to 4S3/2→4I15/2 transition. PL excitation spectra monitored at 548 nm feature broad band in the region from 250 nm to 350 nm which is associated with the electron transfer transition from 2p orbital of O2− to 4f orbital of Er3+ and transitions of ZrO2. On the other hand, bands in PL excitation spectra ranging from 350 nm to 535 nm are related to 4f transitions of the Er3+ from the ground state 4I15/2 to higher energy levels. Down-conversion PL intensity decreases with increasing concentration of Yb3+ in coating due to energy transfer from Er3+ to Yb3+. ZrO2:Er3+/Yb3+ coatings show intense green (4S3/2→4I15/2) and red (4F9/2→4I15/2) up-conversion PL emission under the excitation with a 980 nm diode laser. With increasing Yb3+ concentration red up-conversion PL intensity increases more rapidly with respect to green emission, because red up-conversion PL intensity strongly depends on Yb3+ concentration, i.e. 4F9/2 state of Er3+ is directly excited by energy transfer from excited Yb3+.