Upconversion Luminescence Properties of Ho3+, Tm3+, Yb3+ Co-Doped Nanocrystal NaYF4 Synthesized by Hydrothermal Method

Nanocrystal of upconversion (UC) phosphor Ho3+, Tm3+, and Yb3+, co-doped NaYF4 was prepared by the hydro-thermal method in the presence of the complexing agent EDTA. Under 980 nm diode laser excitation, the impact of different concentrations of Ho3+ ion on the UC luminescence intensity was discussed. The law of luminescence intensity versus pump power shows that the 474 nm blue emission, 538 nm green emission, and 642 nm red emission are all due to the two-photon process, while the 450 nm blue emission is a three-photon process. The UC mechanism and processes were also analyzed. The sample was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The result shows that Ho3+, Tm3+, and Yb3+ co-doped NaYF4 prepared by the hydrothermal method exhibits a hexagonal nanocrystal.