Influence of Er3+/Yb3+ Concentration Ratio on the Down-conversion and Up-conversion Luminescence and Lifetime in GdVO4:Er3+/Yb3+ Microcrystals

  • T. V. Gavrilović Laboratory for Radiation Chemistry and Physics, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade
  • D. J. Jovanović Laboratory for Radiation Chemistry and Physics, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade
  • V. Lojpur Laboratory for Radiation Chemistry and Physics, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade
  • A. Nikolić Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade
  • M. D. Dramićanin Laboratory for Radiation Chemistry and Physics, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade

Abstract

In this paper, we studied the effects of Er3+/Yb3+ concentration ratio on structural, morphological and luminescence properties of GdVO4:Er3+/Yb3+ green phosphors prepared by a high-temperature solid state method. The samples with different concentrations (between 0.5 to 2 mol%) of dopant Er3+ emitting ions and different concentrations (between 5 to 20 mol%) of sensitizer ions (Yb3+) were studied. The phosphors were characterized by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence spectroscopy. For all samples, XRD diffraction patterns confirmed a formation of a pure GdVO4 phase, while the SEM showed that the materials are comprised of chunks of deformed particles with an average diameter ranging from approximately 2 μm to 8 μm. Both, down-conversion and up-conversion emission spectra of GdVO4:Er3+/Yb3+ samples, under near UV and IR excitations, exhibit two strong emission bands in the green spectral region at 525 nm and 552 nm wavelengths corresponding to 2H11/2 →4I15/2 and 4S3/2 → 4I15/2 electronic transitions of Er3+ ions. The intensity of the green emission was changed by changing the Er3+/Yb3+ concentration ratio. This dual-mode luminescence makes these materials ideal as green phosphors for a wide variety of applications in the fields of bioanalysis and biomedical.

Published
2017-12-13
Issue
Vol 47 No 2 (2015)
Section
Articles

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