Dual mode emission and harmonic generation in ZnO-CaO-Al2O3: Er3+ nano-composite

► We have synthesized Er3+ doped composite material by combustion method. The two phases of composites are ZnO and CaO-Al2O3. ► The phosphor has shown up-conversion emission on near-infra-red (976 nm) excitation and down-conversion emission on 355 nm excitation in presence of Er3+ and thus behaves as a dual mode phosphor. This material also shows colour tenability on excitation of 976 nm diode laser at different temperature calcinations (i.e., As-synthesized to calcinated at 1473 K). ► Low temperature effects on Er3+ as well as ZnO emission have been carried out. We observed that at low temperature the efficiency of Er3+ increases while in the case of ZnO its intensity increases and also 12 nm shifting observed. ► Composite material has shown strong second harmonic generation (SHG) at 532 nm on 1064 nm and at 266 nm on 532 nm excitation.