Understanding up and down-conversion luminescence for Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped SiO2-SnO2 glass-ceramics

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 870; p. 159405
• Main Authors: Dung, Cao T.M., Giang, Le T.T., Binh, Do Huy, Hieu, Le Van, Van, Tran T.T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 25-07-2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Dispersion; Down-conversion; Electrons; Erbium; Glass ceramics; Glass-ceramic; High resolution electron microscopy; Image resolution; Image transmission; Nanocrystals; Photoelectrons; Silicon dioxide; SiO2-SnO2; Sol-gel processes; Spectrum analysis; Tin dioxide; Up-conversion; Upconversion; X-ray spectroscopy; Ytterbium; SiO2-SnO2; Yb; Glass-ceramic; Er; Down-conversion; Up-conversion
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.159405

•Er3+ and Yb3+ ions incorporation in SnO2 crystals were confirmed by XPS.•Emission at 1.5 µm was remarkably enhanced due to Yb3+ doping.•Sensitizers (SnO2, Yb) efficiently transferred their energy for Er3+ activators.•Emission mechanism is demonstrated through down and up-conversion processes.
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Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped SiO2-SnO2 glass-ceramics bulks were synthesized using the sol-gel method. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy images, x-ray diffraction, and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy mapping confirm that 5 nm SnO2 crystals were homogeneously dispersed in the silica matrix. The incorporation of Er3+ and Yb3+ ions in SnO2 was also confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This analysis shows Er3+ and Yb3+ ions locate in SnO2 nanocrystal and amorphous silica sites. Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped SiO2-SnO2 glass-ceramics behave as both down and up-conversion luminescent materials. Efficient energy transfers from Yb3+ ion sensitizers to Er3+ activators cause remarkable 5-fold Er3+ emission enhancement at 1.55 µm. We also propose a mechanism for down and up-conversion processes.