Intense ultraviolet upconversion luminescence of Yb3+ and Tb3+ co-doped glass ceramics containing SrF2 nanocrystals

We report an Yb3+/Tb3+ co-doped glass ceramics containing SrF2 nanocrystals. ► Yb3+ and Tb3+ are incorporated in the nanocrystals by annealing method. ► It deduced intense UV-vis upconversion luminescence. ► The upconversion mechanism is the cooperative sensitization from Yb3+ to Tb3+. ► The glass ceramics exhibit higher ET efficiencies than the glasses.