Fuel combustion synthesis and upconversion properties of Yb³⁺ and Er³⁺ dual-doped ZrO₂ nanocrystals

Abstract

Ytterbia and erbia dual-doped zirconia (ZrO₂: Yb³⁺, Er³⁺) nanophosphors were successfully synthesized by high-temperature fuel combustion at 1000 °C for 2 h. The effects of dopant concentration on the structure and upconversion properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence, respectively. XRD patterns indicate that the main phase of products belongs to cubic ZrO₂ fluorite-type structure. TEM results show that different fuels have great influence on the morphologies of dual-doped ZrO₂ samples. Under 980 nm excitation, the glycine-calcined nanophosphors show high stimulated luminescence and doped-ion concentration-depended intensities. The intensely red upconversion emissions are attributed to the fact that the dual-doped Yb³⁺ and Er³⁺ ions result in the non-radiative relaxation, energy migration, and cross relaxation.

Keywords

nanostructure / luminescence / upconversion / zirconia

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