Structural and optical properties in Tm3+/Tm3+–Yb3+ doped NaLuF4 glass-ceramics

Abstract

Transparent NaLuF4 glass-ceramics (GCs) doped with Tm3+ and Tm3+/Yb3+ have been prepared by melting-quenching followed by thermal treatment at temperatures near the glass transition temperature. The crystallization process has been studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). NaLuF4 nanocrystals (NCs) ranging 9–30 nm in size are the only crystalline phase, the crystal size increasing with the dopant concentration. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) measurements confirm the Tm3+ and Yb3+ incorporation in the NCs. Optical characterization included the analysis of up-conversion (UC) as well as the Near-infrared (NIR) luminescence. NIR emission spectra of Tm3+ and Yb3+ in co-doped samples confirmed an efficient energy transfer between both ions. No UC emissions are observed in Tm3+ single-doped glass and GCs. Yb3+ incorporation favors the Tm3+-Tm3+ UC processes resulting in Tm3+ blue, yellowish-red and NIR UC emissions after excitation at 975 nm. Blue UC emission is also observed in the codoped samples after Tm3+ excitation at 791 nm. These effects were more evident for the GCs compared to the base glasses, confirming the RE ions incorporation in the NCs. As a result, these GCs can be used to tune the UC emission from NIR to blue by selective excitation. ; This work was supported by MINECO under Projects MAT2017-87035-C2-1-P/-2-P (AEI/FEDER, UE), Basque Country Government PIBA2018-24 and Basque Country University GIU17/014. This article is part of the dissemination activities of project FunGlass. This project has received funding from the European Union´s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 739566. This article was also created in the frame of the project Centre for Functional and Surface Functionalized Glass (CEGLASS), ITMS code is 313011R453, operational program Research and innovation, co-funded from European Regional Development Fund. This research work has been supported by the Research Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, by the project: Advancement and support of R&D for "Centre for diagnostics and quality testing of materials" in the domains of the RIS3 SK specialization, Acronym: CEDITEK II., ITMS2014+ code 313011W442. ; Peer reviewed