NIR to visible frequency upconversion in Er3+ and Yb3+ codoped ZrO2 phosphor

Abstract

The ZrO2:Er3+ codoped with Yb3+ phosphor powders have been prepared by the urea combustion route. Formation of the compounds ZrO2:Er3+ and ZrO2:Er3+, Yb3+ was confirmed by XRD. The frequency upconversion emissions in the green and red regions upon excitation with a CW diode laser at similar to 978 nm are reported. Codoping with Yb3+ enhances the emission intensities of the triply ionized erbium in the green and red spectral regions by about similar to 130 and similar to 820 times respectively. The emission properties of the ZrO2:Er3+ phosphor powders are discussed on the basis of excited state absorption, energy transfer, and cross-relaxation energy transfer mechanisms.