Host sensitized NIR emission in rare-earth doped NaY(MoO4)2 phosphors

Intense near-infrared emitting phosphors NaY(MoO4)(2) activated with Ln(3+) (Ln = Nd and Yb) were synthesized by a conventional solid state reaction and characterized with X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence emission and excitation spectra. Sensitization of Ln(3+) (Ln = Nd and Yb) from the host with different doping concentration of Ln(3+) were investigated. Under UV excitation, intense and characteristic emission of Nd3+ at 897, 1064 and 1347 nm and Yb3+ emission 997 nm, sensitized by MoO4-2 group were observed. The host excitation is in the UV region of 250-380 nm. An efficient energy transfer from MoO4-2 -> Nd3+, MoO4-2 -> Yb3+ and MoO4-2 -> Nd3+ -> Yb3+ were observed. The two step energy transfer process from MoO4-2 -> Nd3+ -> Yb3+ is also discussed. The excellent luminescence properties of the Nd3+ and Yb3+ single doped and Nd3+-Yb3+ codoped NaY(MoO4)(2) phosphor indicates its potential application in modern lasers and photonic technology. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.