Cooperative energy transfer and frequency upconversion in Yb3+-Tb3+ and Nd3+-Yb3+-Tb3+ codoped GdAl3(BO3)4 phosphors

Polycrystalline GdAl3(BO3)(4) phosphors codoped with Yb3+/Tb3+ and/or Nd3+ Yd(3+)/Tb3+ have been synthesized by combustion method. Upon excitation with a 980 nm laser diode, an intense green upconversion luminescence has been observed in GdAl3(BO3)(4):Yb,Tb phosphor. The quadratic dependence of the luminescence on the pump-laser power indicating a cooperative energy transfer process. Meanwhile, it is noticed that upon excitation with 808 nm laser diode, intense luminescence has clearly been detected in GdAl3(BO3)(4):Nd,Yb,Tb phosphor. The luminescence intensity exhibits also a quadratic dependence on incident pump-laser power. However, no green-emission has been observed in GdAl3(BO3)(4) phosphors codoped with Yb3+/Tb3+ or Nd3+/Tb3+ respectively upon excited at 808 nm laser diode. A proposed upconversion mechanism involving energy transfer from Nd3+ to Yb3+, and then a cooperative energy transfer process from two excited Yb3+ to Tb3+ has been presented.