Spectral management and energy‐transfer mechanism of Eu3+‐doped β‐NaGdF4:Yb3+,Er3+ microcrystals

Abstract

Abstractβ‐NaGdF4:Yb3+,Er3+ upconversion (UC) microcrystals were prepared by a facile hydrothermal process with the assistance of ethylene diamine tertraacetic acid (EDTA). The β‐NaGdF4 UC microcrystal morphology was controlled by changing the doses of EDTA and NaF. Uniform hexagonal structure can be obtained at the 2 mmol EDTA and 9‐10 mmol NaF. The UC emissions of β‐NaGdF4:Yb3+,Er3+ microcrystals were tuned by the variation of Eu3+ doping level (0%‐5%), where the red/green intensity ratio decreased with the Eu3+ concentration increase. It was found on the base of rate equations that with the Eu3+ doping, the energy back transfer process 2H11/2/4S3/2 (Er3+) → 4I13/2 (Er3+) decreased. In addition, an energy‐transfer process from 4F7/2 (Er3+) to 5D1 (Eu3+) and a cross relaxation process of 7H9/2 (Er3+) + 5D0 (Eu3+) → 4F7/2 (Er3+) + 5D2 (Eu3+) were proposed and verified by rate equations, which dominated the energy‐transfer mechanism between Er3+ and Eu3+, resulted in the spectra tuning of β‐NaGdF4:Yb3+,Er3+. The results suggested that the color tuning of β‐NaGdF4:Yb3+,Er3+,Eu3+ UC microcrystals would have potential applications in such fields as flat‐panel displays, solid‐state lasers, and photovoltaics.