Near-infrared downconversion through energy transfer from mathrm{VO}_{4}^{3-} group to Yb3+ in Yb3+ doped YP0.9V0.1O4

Through the study of photoluminescence spectra, fluorescence decay curves, concentration-dependent luminescence and low temperature luminescence, the energy transfer from isolated $mathrm{VO}_{4}^{3-}$ group to Yb³⁺ is investigated in Yb³⁺ doped YP_0.9V_0.1O₄. The experimental results show that the energy transfer from $mathrm{VO}_{4}^{3-}$ group to Yb³⁺ is very efficient. Cooperative energy transfer, through which one high-energy photon absorbed by $mathrm{VO}_{4}^{3-}$ group is converted to two near-infrared photons emitted by Yb³⁺ ions, is proposed to be the energy transfer process. This efficient ultra-violet to near-infrared downconversion could have potential application in improving the efficiency of silicon-based solar cell.