Sensitized deep-ultraviolet up-conversion emissions of Gd3+ via Tm3+ and Yb3+ in hexagonal NaYF4 nanorods

Deep-ultraviolet (UV) up-conversion (UC) emissions in the region of 270 similar to 330 nm of Gd3+ under the excitation of a 980 nm laser diode in hexagonal Yb3+-Tm3+-Gd3+ triply doped NaYF4 nanorods synthesized using a hydrothermal method are reported. Spectral analyses indicate that the UV UC emissions originate from highly efficient energy transfer from Yb3+ to Tm3+, then to Gd(3+)ions, and the intensity of the emission as well as the ratios of the emission peaks are strongly dependent on the doping concentrations and pump power. The materials are envisioned to have potential applications in anti-counterfeiting, optical and magnetic dual modal nanoprobes for biomedicine, solution-based scintillator materials and UV compact solid-state lasers.