Quantum cutting for Er3+ sensitized Yb3+ infrared luminescence in YVO4:Er3+/Yb3+ phosphors
摘要
Investigations on the Er3+ sensitized Yb3+ infrared luminescence, as well as the quantitative evaluation of quantum cutting (QC) efficiency for YVO4:Er3+/Yb3+ phosphors are still lacking. To fill the gap, a series of Er3+ (Yb3+) single doped and Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped YVO4 phosphors were prepared in this work to explore this. Firstly, two-step energy transfer process from Er3+ to Yb3+ was confirmed to achieve QC, which enables the Yb3+ infrared luminescence around 978 nm. Then, the QC efficiency was calculated according to energy transfer theory, radiative transition rates, nonradiative relaxation rates and fluorescence lifetimes. Secondly, energy transfer process from (VO4)3− to Yb3+ was verified by analyzing the spectral properties of YVO4:Yb3+ and YVO4:Er3+/Yb3+ phosphors. Therefore, the researches on spectral properties, the mechanisms for energy transfer and QC efficiency of YVO4:Er3+/Yb3+ phosphors will offer valuable theoretical information for their potential applications in silicon-based solar cells.