Photoluminescence study of Y2O3:Er3+-Eu3+-Yb3+ phosphor for lighting and sensing applications

The Er3+, Eu3+, and Yb3+ codoped Y2O3 phosphors have been synthesized by combustion synthesis process. For the structural information, the XRD analysis of the developed phosphor has been done. The frequency upconversion (UC) emissions in the codoped Y2O3 phosphor on excitation with 980 nm diode laser in the visible region have been performed and explained on the basis of excited state absorption and energy transfer process. The mechanism responsible in UC emissions was observed to involve two photon absorption and efficiency of the UC luminescence is significantly enhanced by introducing the Yb3+ ions. The tunability in colour of emitted radiation has been visualized by chromaticity diagram on increasing power of excitation source. The temperature sensing behaviour of developed phosphor material has been investigated using fluorescence intensity ratio technique. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4793265]