Reversible upconversion modulation in new photochromic SrBi2Nb2O9 based ceramics for optical storage and anti-counterfeiting applications

The manipulation of luminescence properties of upconversion (UC) materials from micro to macro aspects is of vital importance for disclosing new physical phenomena and expanding the range of applications. In this work, a novel class of SrBi2Nb2O9 (SBN)-based inorganic photochromic (PC) phosphors was synthesized, which exhibited intense susceptibility to visible light irradiation. Large reversible UC modulation ability upon PC effect was realized. Besides, the regulation of UC luminescence was discovered to strongly rely on the irradiation time and heating processes. The mechanisms connected to the UC luminescence, PC effect, and UC manipulation were illustrated. These results demonstrated that SBN-based samples owing high reversible manipulation ratio, fast response, low heating temperature, and excellent reproducibility can be employed as a type of ideal optical medium for future information storage device. In addition, based on the reversible behavior of photochromism, the application of the SBN-based ceramic as an anti-counterfeiting agent was also depicted.