Enhanced upconversion emission of three dimensionally ordered macroporous films Bi2Ti2O7:Er3+, Yb3+ with silica shell

In this paper, a simple effective approach has been developed to enhance upconversion emission of three-dimensionally ordered macroporous materials, which is attributed to formation of silica shell around surface of three-dimensionally ordered macroporous materials. This approach involves the preparation of Bi2Ti2O7:Er3+, Yb3+ three-dimensionally ordered macroporous materials and the formation of amorphous SiO2 shell on the macroporous surfaces of three-dimensionally ordered macroporous materials. The influence of silica shell on the upconversion emission of Er3+ ions was investigated, and the enhanced upconversion emission was observed in the Bi2Ti2O7:Er3+, Yb3+ three-dimensionally ordered macroporous materials owing to the suppression of surface quenching effect caused by the formation of silica shells. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.