Upconversion luminescence of Ba(MoO4)h(WO4)1−h:Yb3+/Er3+ nanocrystals synthesized through hydrothermal method

• Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped Ba(MoO4)h(WO4)1−h UCNCs were prepared via hydrothermal method.
• XRD patterns were found to be similar without showing discernable shifting as h increases.
• The particle size was about 40 nm according to the SEM measurement results.
• The luminescence intensity of tungstate molybdate solid solution much stronger than the tungstate or molybdate alone.

A series of Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped Ba(MoO4)h(WO4)1−h upconversion nanocrystals (UCNCs) were prepared via hydrothermal method. The effects of different concentration ratios of Yb3+/Er3+ and Mo4O2−/WO42− on the upconversion luminescence were investigated, and the optimum doping concentrations of Yb3+ and Er3+ in the Ba(MoO4)0.5(WO4)0.5 host were found to be 3 mol% and 1 mol%, respectively. Structure of Ba(MoO4)0.5(WO4)0.5:0.03Yb3+/0.01Er3+ was identified as the tetragonal in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) results and the particle size observed in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) was about 40 nm. Under excitation of 980 nm semiconductor laser, three emission bands centered at 528, 550 and 660 nm, originating from 2H11/2 → 4I15/2, 4S3/2 → 4I15/2 and 4F9/2 → 4I15/2 transitions of Er3+ ion, respectively, were observed for Ba(MoO4)0.5(WO4)0.5:0.03Yb3+/0.01Er3+. The pump power dependence research suggested that these bands arise due to two-photon absorption. The variation of CIE coordinate at different excitation powers was observed.