Up-conversion luminescence properties of Y2O2S:Yb3+,Er3+ nanophosphors

Up-converting yttrium oxysulfide nanomaterials doped with ytterbium and erbium (Y2O2S:Yb3+,Er3+) were prepared with the flux method. The precursor oxide materials were prepared using the combustion synthesis. The morphology of the oxysulfides was characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The particle size distribution was 10–110 nm, depending on the heating temperature. According to the X-ray powder diffraction (XPD), the crystal structure was found hexagonal and the particle sizes estimated with the Scherrer equation agreeded with the TEM images. Upon the 970 nm infrared (IR) laser excitation, the materials yield moderate green ((2H11/2, 4S3/2) → 4I15/2 transition) and strong red (4F9/2 → 4I15/2) luminescence. The green luminescence was enhanced with respect to the red one by an increase in both the crystallite size and erbium concentration due to the cross-relaxation (CR) processes. The most intense up-conversion luminescence was achieved with xYb and xEr equal to 0.10 and 0.005, respectively. Above these concentrations, concentration quenching occurred.