Emission behaviors of Yb2O3 nanoparticles pumped by 980 nm laser at different power densities

Yb2O3 nanoparticles synthesized via Pechini type sal-gel method were characterized by TEM, SAED, EDS, XRD, SEM and Raman spectrometer. Their emission properties were recorded by a fluorescence spectrophotometer with a 980 nm laser as the excitation source. These spectral results indicate that there are two optical bistable emissions at low/high laser power densities, i.e. Yb3+-Yb3+ dimer cooperative upconversion luminescence and thermal emission. Thus, Yb2O3 nanoparticles might be regarded as a candidate for intrinsic optical bistability. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.