Frequency upconversion (UC) photoluminescence (PL) in PbO-B2O3 glass codoped with trivalent ions of neodymium (Nd3+) and ytterbium (Yb3+) is prepared by melt quench method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning carorimetry (DSC) done for structural and thermal studies. Physical properties as density, oxygen packing density, lanthanide ion concentration etc. calculated. Photoluminescence of the sample gives the information of spectral lines, corresponding to the Nd3+ transitions 4G9/2 4I9/2 (at 500 nm), 4G7/24I9/2 (at 550 nm), [4G5/2; 2G7/2] 4I11/2 (at 595 nm) and 4G7/24I13/2 (at 660 nm). The dependence of the UC intensity with the Yb3+ concentration and the time behavior of the UC signal indicated the presence of two energy transfer (ET) pathways involving Nd3+-Yb3+ pairs and Yb3+-Nd3+-Yb3+ triads. Rate-equations for the population densities of the lanthanide energy levels were used to describe the dynamics of the UC emission and to determine the ET rates.
Read full abstract