Preparation and near-infrared luminescence properties of Y2O3:Er3+, Yb3+ nanopowders

•Y2O3:Er3+, Yb3+ nano-powders were prepared by co-precipitation method.•The grain size increased obviously with the increasing temperature.•The powders showed obvious near infrared emission peaking at 1535 nm.•There is interaction between up-conversion emission and near infrared emission.

Y2O3:Er3+, Yb3+ nanopowders were prepared by co-precipitation method. The properties of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy and spectrophotometer. No impurity was found in the synthesized materials. The grain size of the powders increased greatly with the increase of temperature. The samples showed obvious near infrared emission peaking at 1535 nm under the excitation of 980 nm laser, which was assigned to the 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 energy level transition of Er3+. The superabundant doping content of Er3+ decreased the luminescence intensity obviously because of the concentration quenching of Er3+. With a low doping content of Yb3+, the reinforced green, near infrared and the weakened red luminescence were observed. However, the condition was reversed when the Yb3+ increased to a certain higher concentration.