Near-infrared luminescence and energy transfer studies of LaOBr: Nd3+/Yb3+

LaOBr:Nd3+/Yb3+ has been prepared via a high temperature solid-state method, and near-infrared (NIR) quantum cutting (QC) luminescence in this system has been demonstrated. NIR luminescence of LaOBr: Nd3+/Yb3+ has been investigated by excitation, emission spectra and lifetime measurements, respectively. After absorption of a single 363 nm photon, downconversion (DC) occurs from the Nd3+ (4)G(9/2) level via the cross-relaxation process Nd3+ ((4)G(9/2)-> F-4(3/2)), Yb3+ (F-2(7/2)-> F-2(5/2)), followed by a second energy transfer step from Nd3+ (F-4(3/2) level) to Yb3+ (F-2(5/2) level), leading to the emission of two IR photons from Yb3+, which is a promising avenue to boost the efficiency of solar cells with a twofold increase in the photon number. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America