Emission behaviors of Yb2O3 nanoparticles pumped by 980 nm laser at different power densities

•Yb2O3 nanoparticles were synthesized via Pechini type sol-gel method.•Yb3+ cooperative luminescence and thermal emission occur in Yb2O3 nanoparticles.•An optical bistable emission exhibits a hysteresis at different power densities.•Extraordinary absorption of Yb2O3 nanoparticles affects the bistability.

Yb2O3 nanoparticles synthesized via Pechini type sol-gel method were characterized by TEM, SAED, EDS, XRD, SEM and Raman spectrometer. Their emission properties were recorded by a fluorescence spectrophotometer with a 980 nm laser as the excitation source. These spectral results indicate that there are two optical bistable emissions at low/high laser power densities, i.e. Yb3+–Yb3+ dimer cooperative upconversion luminescence and thermal emission. Thus, Yb2O3 nanoparticles might be regarded as a candidate for intrinsic optical bistability.