Spectroscopic properties of new luminescent system based on vanadate(V) crystal doped with erbium ions

Er³⁺-doped KCaY(VO₄)₂ microcrystalline samples were synthesized using a high temperature solid-state reaction technique. Spectroscopic properties of Er³⁺: KCaY(VO₄)₂ are studied and the nature of emissions is discussed. A strong green and infrared luminescence were observed under excitation at 314 nm in the O²⁻→V⁵⁺ charge-transfer transitions and direct excitation of Er³⁺ ions at 435 nm. A strong emission lines in the blue region are due to the transitions of VO₄³⁻ ions have been observed at 77 K. The Judd-Ofelt parametrization scheme has been applied to the analysis of the room temperature absorption spectra in order to evaluate the intensity parameters, the branching ratios and the radiative lifetimes of the ⁴I_13/2, ⁴I_11/2, ⁴F_9/2 and ⁴S_3/2 emitting levels. The effective cross-section has been calculated for the ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 transition, indicating that the title compounds is a promising active medium for application in the three-level laser system. The up-conversion emission in Er³⁺: KCaY(VO₄)₂ was investigated at 300 K. The decay profiles of the Stokes and anti-Stokes emissions were measured and the mechanism of up-conversion luminescence is discussed.