White upconversion emission and color tunability of Y2O3:R(R=Yb3+, Er3+, Tm3+) nanophosphors

Abstract

The Y2O3:R(R = Yb3+, Er3+, Tm3+) nanophosphors were synthesized by a solvothermal method and the temperature dependence of the white upconversion emission was studied using a 975 nm LD. The upconversion emission spectra in 1 mol% Er3+/5 mol% Yb3+/xTm3+ tri-doped Y2O3 nanophosphors were sintered at 1000 °C with x from 0 to 0.5 mol%. The blue emission intensity increases increasing Tm3+ concentration from 0 to 0.5 mol%, because the Tm3+ state can be easily reached due to the 2F7/2 → 2F5/2 transition of Yb3+ near 10,000 cm−1. The Y2O3: Er3+/Yb3+/Tm3+ nanophosphors exhibit upconversion emission from white to green with increasing sintering temperature. The calculated CIE coordinates are located in the white region at a pump power of 700 mW at 1000 °C, and the color coordinates were very similar to the standard white light emission. Their upconversion process was described through energy level diagrams and results of upconversion emission spectra and pump power dependence.