A Ce^(3+)tion-doped α-Na YF_4 single crystal of high quality is grown successfully by an improved flux Bridgman method under the conditions of taking the chemical raw composition of Na F:KF:YF_3:CeF_3 in the molar ratio of30∶18∶48∶4, where the KF is shown to be an effective assistant flux. The x ray diffraction, absorption spectra,excitation spectra, and emission spectra of the Ce^(3+)t-doped α-Na YF_4 single crystal are measured to investigate the phase and optical properties of the single crystals. The absorption spectrum of the Ce^(3+)t:α-Na YF_4 shows a strong band that peaks at the wavelength of 300 nm. The emission spectrum of the Ce^(3+)t:α-Na YF_4 emits an intense ultraviolet(UV) band at the wavelength of 332 nm under the excitation of 300 nm light. Two separated luminous bands of 330 and 350 nm, which correspond to the transitions 5d → 2F25∕2and 5d → F7∕2, can be obtained by Gauss fitting. The strong emission intensity at the UV band and the excellent optical transmission in the range of UV wavelengths indicate that Ce^(3+)t:α-Na YF_4 single crystals can be considered as a promising material for UV lasers.
Optical absorption,excitation,and fluorescence were investigated in Eu ion-doped CdWO4 single crystal grown by a modified Bridgman method.The results indicate that Eu2+ and Eu3+ ions coexist in CdWO4 crystal and an energy transfer occurs between these Eu2+ and Eu3+ ions.When the crystal is excited by 266-nm light,the energy corresponding to the 4f65d to 8S7/2 transition of Eu2+ ions results in the excitation of the Eu3+ ions to the 5DJ level.The effect on fluorescence of annealing in oxygen at various temperatures was investigated.The excitation intensity of Eu2+ ions at 266 nm decreases as annealing temperature increases from 300 K to 1073 K,but it remains at a certain equilibrium level when the annealing temperature is further increased.
Ho3+ with various concentrations and Tm3+ with molar concentration of 1.28% are co-doped in Li YF4(YLF) single crystals. The luminescent properties of the crystals are investigated through emission spectra, emission cross section and decay curves under the excitation of 808 nm. The energy transfer from Tm3+ to Ho3+ and the optimum fluorescence emission of Ho3+ around 2.05 μm are investigated. The emission intensity at 2.05 μm keeps increasing with the molar concentration of Ho3+ improved from 0.50% to 1.51% when the molar concentration of Tm3+ is kept at 1.28%. Moreover, for the co-doped crystals in which the molar concentrations of Tm3+ and Ho3+ are 1.28% and 1.51%, respectively, the maximum emission cross section reaches 0.760×10–20 cm2 and the maximum fluorescence lifetime is 21.98 ms. All the parameters suggest that these materials have more advantages in the future 2.0 μm laser applications.
In this paper, optical spectra of LiYF4 single crystals doped with Tm3+ions of various concentrations are reported.The emission intensity at 1.8 μm first increases with increasing Tm3+concentration, and reaches a maximum value when the concentration of Tm3+is about 1.28 mol%, then it decreases rapidly as the concentration of Tm3+further increases to 3.49 mol%. The emission lifetime at 1.8 μm also shows a similar tendency to the emission intensity. The maximum lifetime of 1.8 μm is measured to be 17.68 ms for the sample doped with Tm3+of 1.28 mol%. The emission cross section of3F4 level is calculated. The maximum reaches 3.76 × 10-21cm2 at 1909 nm. The cross relaxation(3H6,3H4→3F4,3F4) between Tm3+ions and the concentration quenching effect are mainly attributed to the change of emission with Tm3+concentration. The largest quantum efficiency between Tm3+ions is estimated to be ～147% from the measured lifetime and calculated radiative lifetime. All the results suggest that the Tm3+/LiYF4 single crystal may have potential applications in 2 μm mid-infrared lasers.
The absorption spectra,excitation spectra,and emission spectra of Tb^(3+)/Eu^(3+) ions in LiYF_4 single crystals synthesized by an improved Bridgman method are measured.The emission spectra of several bands,mainly located at blue ~487 nm(Tb:~5D_4 →~7F_6),yellowish green ~542 nm(Tb:~5D_4→~7F_5),and red ~611 nm(Eu:~5D_0→~7F_2) wavelengths,are observed under excitation by UV light.An ideal white light emission as a result of simultaneous combination of these emissions can be obtained from 1.11 mol%Tb^(3+) and0.9 mol%Eu^(3+) co-doped LiYF_4 single crystals with chroniaticity coordinates of x = 0.3242,y = 0.3389,color temperature T_c = 5878 K,color rendering index R_a = 77,and color quality scale Q_a = 75 under excitation of384 nm light.The chroniaticity coordinate,color rendering index,and color quality scale can be modified by the change of the concentration of rare-earth dopants and the excitation wavelength.
Ho3+/Yb3+co-doped Li YF4 single crystals with various Yb3+concentrations and ～ 0.98 mol% Ho3+concentration are grown by the Bridgman method under the conditions of taking Li F and YF3 as raw materials and a temperature gradient(40°C/cm–50°C/cm) for the solid–liquid interface.The luminescent performances of the crystals are investigated through emission spectra,infrared transmittance spectrum,emission cross section,and decay curves under excitation by 980 nm.Compared with the Ho3+single-doped Li YF4 crystal,the Ho3+/Yb3+co-doped Li YF4 single crystal has an obviously enhanced emission band from 1850 nm to 2150 nm observed when excited by a 980-nm diode laser.The energy transfer from Yb3+to Ho3+and the optimum fluorescence emission around 2.0 μm of Ho3+ions are investigated.The maximum emission cross section of the above sample at 2.0 μm is calculated to be 1.08×10-20cm2 for the Li YF4 single crystal of1-mol% Ho3+and 6-mol% Yb3+according to the measured absorption spectrum.The high energy transfer efficiency of88.9% from Yb3+to Ho3+ion in the sample co-doped by Ho3+(1 mol%) and Yb3+(8 mol%) demonstrates that the Yb3+ions can efficiently sensitize the Ho3+ions.
High quality Tb^(3+)/Eu^(3+) co-doped cubic NaYF_4 single crystal in the size of Φ1.0 cm×6.6 cm was grown by a modified Bridgman method using KF as assistant flux for NaF-YF_3 system under the condition of completely closed Pt crucible.A white light emission from the combination of the violet-blue,blue,green,orange,and red lights with chromaticity coordinates of x = 0.3107,y = 0.3274,correlated color temperature of T_c = 6637 K,color rendering index of R_a = 83,and color quality scale of Q_a = 82 could be obtained from 1.51 mol%Tb^(3+) and 1.42 mol%Eu^(3+) co-doped cubic NaYF_4 single crystal when being excited by a 369 nm light.This indicates that Tb^(3+)/Eu^(3+) co-doped cubic NaYF_4 single crystal has a potential application in white light emitting diode excited by ultraviolet light.
Dy3+/Eu3+ co-doped cubic lattice Na YF4 single crystal with high quality in the size of ~Φ1.0 cm×10.0 cm was grown by an improved Bridgman method using potassium fluoride(KF) as assistant flux. X-ray diffraction(XRD), absorption spectra, excitation spectra and emission spectra are measured to investigate the phase and luminescent properties of the crystal. The effects of excitation wavelength and concentrations of Dy3+ and Eu3+ ions on the luminescent characteristics are analyzed. The Na YF4 single crystal with the doping molar concentrations of 1.205% Dy3+ and 0.366% Eu3+ exhibits an excellent white light emission with chromaticity coordinates of x=0.321, y=0.332. It indicates that the Dy3+/Eu3+ co-doped cubic lattice Na YF4 single crystal can be a potential luminescent material for the ultraviolet(UV) light excited white light emitting diode(w-LED).
Pr3+and Yb3+co-doped phosphate glasses are prepared to study their optical properties.Excitation and emission spectra and decay curves are used to characterize their luminescence.We demonstrate that upon excitation of Pr3+ion with one high energy photon at 470 nm,two near-infrared(NIR)photons are emitted at 950-1100 nm(Yb3+:2F 5/2 →2F 7/2)through an efficient cooperative energy transfer(CET)from Pr3+to Yb3+.The maximum energy transfer efficiency(ETE)and the corresponding quantum efficiency approach up to 90.17%and 190.17%,respectively.The glass materials might find potential application for improving the efficiency of silicon-based solar cells.
