Preparation and upconversion emission properties of Yb, Er co-doped Y2Ti2O7 upconversion inverse opal

Upconversion inverse opal photonic crystals based on a luminescent matrix of Yb, Er co-doped Y2Ti2O7 were synthesized, and their photoluminescence was investigated. By comparing the spectra of the inverse opals with that of the reference sample, the contribution of photonic band gap effect to the upconversion emission was observed in the Y2Ti2O7: Yb, Er inverse opals. Intensity of the green or red upconversion emission from Er3+ was depressed when the overlapping between the photonic band-gap and Er3+ ions emission band occurs.

► A novel upconversion (UC) inverse opal (Y2Ti2O7:Yb, Er) was prepared.
► UC emission of Er3+ was modified by controlling the structure of inverse opal.
► Suppression of the red or green UC emission was detected in the inverse opal.