Energy transfer studies in Ca10Li(PO4)7:Ce3+, Nd3+

During recent years, efficient emission of lanthanide activators in Ca10Li(PO4)7 host has been reported. Luminescence of rare earth activators such as Ce3+, Dy3+, Sm3+ and Ho3+, Er3+ has been reported and found suitable for various applications like solid state lighting. Most of these studies are related to visible emission. There are not many reports on NIR emission though it can be important for several applications like bioimaging, telecommunications, solar photovoltaics, Photodynamic therapy, photostimulated localized hyperthermia, etc. Efficient NIR emission in Ca10Li(PO4)7 host activated with Nd3+ is reported in the present work, which could be useful for obtaining Nd3+ based phosphors emitting in NIR region. The emission could be sensitized using Ce3+ → Nd3+ energy transfer.