The strong cross relaxation of Er3+ and yb3+ ions in the oxyfluoride glass ceramics

Abstract

Oxyfluoride glass ceramic is a new up-conversion fluorescent material with the low phonon energy just like fluoride and the good mechanical stability like oxide. In the oxyfluoride glass ceramics co-doped with Er3+ and Yb3+ ions, the red radiation is dominant while it is excited by the violet light. But in the general fluorescent material, the green radiation is dominant because the multi-phonon relaxation occurs step by step. The strong cross relaxation process of Er3+ and Yb3+ ions is mainly responsible for enhancement of the red radiation intensity in the oxyfluoride glass ceramics. The increase of the red radiation intensity of Er3+ ions by the violet light excitation shows that the rare earth ions are doped into fluoride micro-crystals which are planted into oxide host in the oxyfluoride glass ceramics.