Down-shift and up-conversion luminescence in BaLuF5:Er3+ glass-ceramics

Unique Er3+ doped transparent BaLuF5 based glass-ceramics were triumphantly elaborated for the first time by melt-quenching technique and subsequent thermal treatment. The structural and luminescent properties were systemically investigated by XRD, TEM, absorption, excitation, down-shift and up-conversion spectra. All samples exhibit intense characteristic emissions of Er3+ (2H11/2, 4S3/2, 4F9/2→4I15/2) excited by 980 nm laser. The dramatically enhanced up-conversion (6500 times) and longer lifetime in glass-ceramics confirm that most Er3+ ions have preferentially entered into BaLuF5 nanocrystals with lower phonon energy after crystallization. Our results indicate BaLuF5 based transparent glass-ceramics may be excellent hosts for rare earth ions doping.