Effects of Yb concentration on the spectroscopic properties of Yb: Y3Al5O12

Yb:YAG single crystals with Yb doping concentration 5.4, 16.3, 27.1, 53.6, and 100 at.% were grown by the Czochralski process. The effects of Yb concentration on the absorption spectra (190-1100 nm), fluorescence spectra under 940 nm and X-ray excitation were studied. The concentration quenching of fluorescence was observed when the Yb doping concentration reaches to as high as 27.1at.% for Yb:YAG. Under 940 nm excitation, the influence of the self-absorption at 969 and 1029 nm on the fluorescence spectra is not evident when the Yb doping concentration is as high as 27.1at.%. However, it can greatly change the shape of fluorescence spectra of Yb:YAG when the Yb doping concentration reaches to above 53.6 at.%.     

Cooperative near-IR to visible photon upconversion in Yb3+-doped MnCl2 and MnBr2: comparison with a series of Yb3+-doped Mn2+ halides

Yb3+-doped MnCl2 and MnBr2 crystals exhibit strong red upconversion luminescence under near-infrared excitation around 10 000 cm(-1) at temperatures below 100 K. The broad red luminescence band is centred around 15 200 cm(-1) for both compounds and identified as the Mn2+ 4T1g-->6A1g transition. Excitation with 10 ns pulses indicates that the upconversion process consists of a sequence of ground-state and excited-state absorption steps. The experimental VIS/NIR photon ratio at 12 K for an excitation power of 191 mW focused on the sample with a 53 mm lens is 4.1% for MnCl2:Yb3+ and 1.2% for MnBr2:Yb3+. An upconversion mechanism based on exchange coupled Yb3+-Mn2+ ions is proposed. Similar upconversion properties have been reported for RbMnCl3:Yb3+, CsMnCl3:Yb3+, CsMnBr3:Yb3+, RbMnBr3:Yb3+, Rb2MnCl4:Yb3+. The efficiency of the upconversion process in these compounds is strongly dependent on the connectivity between the Yb3+ and Mn2+ ions. The VIS/NIR photon ratio decreases by three orders of magnitude along the series of corner-sharing Yb3+-Cl--Mn2+, edge-sharing Yb3+-(Cl-)2-Mn2+ to face-sharing Yb3+-(Br-)3-Mn2+ bridging geometry. This trend is discussed in terms of the dependence of the relevant super-exchange pathways on the Yb(3+)-Mn2+ bridging geometry.     

Optical parameters and upconversion fluorescence in Tm3+/Yb3+-doped alkali-barium-bismuth-tellurite glasses

Tm(3+)/Yb(3+)-doped alkali-barium-bismuth-tellurite (LKBBT) glasses have been fabricated and characterized. Density, refractive index, optical absorption, absorption and emission cross-sections of Yb(3+), Judd-Ofelt parameters and spontaneous transition probabilities of Tm(3+) have been measured and calculated, respectively. Intense blue three-photon upconversion fluorescence and near-infrared two-photon upconversion fluorescence were investigated under the excitation of a 980 nm diode laser at room temperature. Wide infrared transmission window, high refractive index and strong blue three-photon upconversion emission of Tm(3+) indicate that Tm(3+)/Yb(3+) co-doped LKBBT glasses are promising upconversion optical and laser materials.     

First-principles calculations for the cooperative transitions of Yb3+ dimer clusters in Y3Al5O12 and Y2O3 crystals

A first-principles multielectron method is applied to the calculations for the cooperative transitions of trivalent ytterbium ions (Yb3+) in yttrium aluminum garnet (Y3Al5O12; YAG) and yttrium sesquioxide (Y2O3) crystals. The method is based on a molecular-orbital method, in which the overlap between the Yb 4f and the oxygen 2p orbitals is directly considered through a self-consistent procedure. A Yb2(3+) two-ion model and a (Yb2O14)22- dimer cluster embedded in the point charges of the YAG lattice are compared. The 4f-2p overlaps in the cluster model is needed to explain the cooperative transition probability originating from electric dipole transitions. A (Yb2O10)14- dimer molecule in Y2O3 lattice produces larger electric dipole transition probabilities than the case of YAG. The smaller coordination number in Y2O3 produces the larger 4f-2p overlaps, which result in the larger transition probabilities.     

Green and red light emission by upconversion from the near-IR in Yb(3+) doped CsMnBr3

Direct near-IR excitation of Yb(3+) 2F(7/2)-->(2)F(5/2) levels at 10126, 10138, and 10596 cm(-1) in CsMnBr3:0.5%Yb(3+) leads to three types of luminescence at cryogenic temperatures: near-IR Yb(3+) emission and green and red upconverted luminescence. The green luminescence around 20 000 cm(-1) is identified as cooperative Yb(3+) pair upconversion. The broad red upconversion luminescence band centered at 14 700 cm(-1) is ascribed to the 4T(1g)-->6A(1g) transition of Mn(2+). Pulsed measurements indicate a sequence of ground-state absorption and excited-state absorption steps for the red upconversion process. One- and two-color excitation experiments support this, and we conclude that the red upconversion occurs by an exchange mechanism involving Yb(3+) and Mn(2+). The Yb(3+) 2F(5/2)-->(2)F(7/2) near-IR emission around 10 000 cm(-1) is also observed after Mn(2+) excitation at 21 838 cm(-1). This is indicative of a Mn(2+) 4T(1g)--> Yb(3+) 2F(5/2) relaxation process, which is a potential loss process for upconversion efficiency.     

ZrO_2表面上Zr~(3+)中心上的O_2吸附平衡

以ESR为主要研究手段,研究了一种最可几粒径为9.8 nm的ZrO_2样品在室温不 同气体（He,H_2,O_2,空气,温空气）中及经不同温度处理后ZrO_2中Zr~(3+)中 心信号的变化。根据ZrO_2样品中Zr~(3+)浓度在室温下对于介质气体中O_2分压改 变的响应极快及Zr~(3+)浓度在室温下对于介质气体变化可逆性等特点提出, ZrO_2中Zr~(3+)中心绝大多数存在于样品的表面上,Zr~(3+)是ZrO_2晶体表面上那 些O~(2-)配位不饱和的Zr原子点位。ZrO_2表面上ESR活性Zr~(3+)中心的数目与其 上氧吸附平衡有关。由ESR法对ZrO_2样品中Zr~(3+)中心的定量和对ZrO_2晶体的粒 度分析,推测ZrO_2表面上Zr~(3+)中心是那些位于ZrO_2微晶的晶角处O~(2-)配位 不饱和的Zr原子。     

Sub-10 nm hexagonal lanthanide-doped NaLuF4 upconversion nanocrystals for sensitive bioimaging in vivo

By thermal decomposition in the presence only of oleylamine, sub-10 nm hexagonal NaLuF(4)-based nanocrystals codoped with Gd(3+), Yb(3+), and Er(3+) (or Tm(3+)) have been successfully synthesized. Sub-10 nm β-NaLuF(4): 24 mol % Gd(3+), 20 mol % Yb(3+), 1 mol % Tm(3+) nanocrystals display bright upconversion luminescence (UCL) with a quantum yield of 0.47 ± 0.06% under continuous-wave excitation at 980 nm. Furthermore, through the use of β-NaLuF(4):Gd(3+),Yb(3+),Tm(3+) nanocrystals as a luminescent label, the detection limit of <50 nanocrystal-labeled cells was achieved for whole-body photoluminescent imaging of a small animal (mouse), and high-contrast UCL imaging of a whole-body black mouse with a penetration depth of ~2 cm was achieved.     

YAG∶Ce体系中稀土离子掺杂对Ce3+的光谱性能的影响

采用高温固相法合成了一系列的(Y0.95Ln0.01Ce0.04)3Al5O12(简称YAG∶Ce,Ln), 系统地研究了此体系中的Ln3+对Ce3+的发光强度的影响. 结果表明, 在YAG∶Ce的体系中, La3+, Gd3+, Lu3+等光学透明离子的少量掺杂对Ce3+的发光强度的影响不大; 掺入少量的Pr3+, Sm3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, Ho3+, Er3+, Tm3+等稀土离子, 由于它们的能级与Ce3+的能级有交叠, 使它们之间存在着竞争吸收或能量转移, 对Ce3+的发光有较明显的变化, 其中, Pr3+和Sm3+的掺入使其在红光区有发射峰, 可以增加YAG∶Ce的红色成分以提高显色性; Nd3+, Eu3+和Yb3+对Ce3+的发光有严重的猝灭作用.     

Dopant distribution in a Tm(3+)-Yb(3+) codoped silica based glass ceramic: an infrared-laser induced upconversion study

The optically active dopant distribution in a Tm(3+)-Yb(3+) doped silica based glass ceramic sample has been investigated. A systematic analysis of the upconversion fluorescence of the Tm(3+)-Yb(3+) codoped glass and glass ceramic has been performed at room temperature. Tm(3+) and Yb(3+) single doped glass and glass ceramics have also been included in the study. Upon infrared excitation at 790 nm into the (3)H(4) level of the Tm(3+) ions a blue upconversion emission is observed, which is drastically increased in the Yb(3+) codoped samples. A rate equation model confirmed the energy transfer upconversion mechanism. Based on these results, the temporal dynamic curves of the levels involved in the upconversion process, (3)H(4), (2)F(5/2), and (1)G(4) were interpreted in the glass ceramic samples. The contribution of the optically active Tm(3+) and Yb(3+) ions in the crystalline and in the vitreous phase of the glass ceramic was distinguished and the ratio of Tm(3+) ions in the crystalline phase could be quantified for the 1 mol % Tm(3+)-2.5 mol % Yb(3+) glass ceramic. A surprising result was obtained for that concentration: the main contribution to the upconversion emission of the glass ceramic is due to Tm(3+)-Yb(3+) ions in the vitreous phase.     

Controllable synthesis and up-conversion properties of tetragonal BaYF5:Yb/Ln (Ln=Er, Tm, and Ho) nanocrystals

The nanocrystals (NCs) of tetragonal barium yttrium fluoride (BaYF(5)) doped 1 mol% Ln(3+) (Ln=Er, Tm, Ho) and 20 mol% Yb(3+) with different morphologies and sizes have been successfully synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method. The influences of pH values of the initial solution and fluorine sources on the final structure and morphology of the products have been well investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to characterize the size, structure and morphology of these samples prepared at different conditions. And it is found that BaYF(5):Yb/Ln NCs prepared at pH value of 10 using NaBF(4) as F(-) source have a uniform spherical morphology with average diameter of 25 nm. Additionally, the up-conversion (UC) properties of Yb/Er, Yb/Tm, and Yb/Ho doped BaYF(5) nanoparticles were also discussed. Under 980 nm laser excitation, the BaYF(5):Yb/Er, BaYF(5):Yb/Tm, and BaYF(5):Yb/Ho NCs exhibit green, whitish blue, and yellow green UC luminescence, respectively. The luminescence mechanisms for the doped lanthanide ions were thoroughly analyzed.     

Study of luminescence properties of novel Er3+ single-doped and Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped tellurite glasses

The novel Er(3+) single-doped and Er(3+)/Yb(3+) co-doped tellurite glasses were prepared. The effect of Yb(2)O(3) concentration on absorption spectra, emission spectra and upconversion spectra of glasses were measured and investigated. The emission intensity, fluorescence full width at half maximum (FWHM) and upconversion luminescence of Er(3+) go up with the increasing concentration of Yb(3+) ions. The maximum FWHM of (4)I(13/2) --> (4)I(15/2) transition of Er(3+) is approximate 77 nm for 1.41 x 10(21)ions/cm(3) concentration of Yb(3+)-doped glass. The visible upconversion emissions at about 532, 546 and 659 nm, corresponding to the (2)H(11/2) --> (4)I(15/2), (4)S(3/2) --> (4)I(15/2) and (4)F(9/2) --> (4)I(15/2) transitions of Er(3+), respectively, were simultaneously observed under the excitation at 970 nm. Subsequently, the possible upconversion mechanisms and important role of Yb(3+) on the green and red emissions were discussed and compared. The results demonstrate that this kind of tellurite glass may be a potentially useful material for developing potential amplifiers and upconversion optical devices.     

Tm:Lu_3Al_5O_(12)晶体的生长与光谱性能研究

采用提拉法生长高质量的纯LuAG晶体和4%(原子分数)Tm:LuAG晶体.对晶体的晶胞参数和光谱性能进行了详细的表征.研究发现:Tm~(3+)的掺入没有改变LuAG基质的晶体结构;吸收光谱中255 nm处的吸收带是由Fe~(3+),Fe~(2+)引起的;晶体在782 nm处的吸收峰,与商用AlGaAs二极管的发射波长匹配良好,吸收截面为5.07×10~(-21) cm~2.Tm:LuAG晶体在2 μm波段的荧光峰对应~3F_4-~3H_6能级之间的跃迁,荧光寿命长达11.9 ms,有利于激光的高能量调Q输出.结果表明,Tm:LuAG晶体是2 μm激光器中很有发展潜力的增益介质,将会替代Tm:YAG晶体应用于激光雷达系统.     

Growth and Spectral Properties of Yb^3＋-doped Ba3Gd（BO3）3 Crystal

Crystal of Yb3+-doped Ba3Gd(BO3)3 has been grown by the Czochralski method. The spectroscopic characterizations have been investigated at room temperature. The Yb3+:Ba3Gd(BO3)3 crystal exhibits broad absorption at 976nm with FWHM of 7nm and large overall spitting of 2F7/2 manifold (823cm-1). The absorption and emission cross sections are 5.09×10-21cm2 at 976nm and 0.97×10-21cm2 at 1040nm,respectively. The fluorescence lifetime is 2.84 ms.     

Optical spectroscopy of Yb(3)Al(5)O(12) single crystal

Yb(3)Al(5)O(12) single crystal has been grown by Czochralski (CZ) method. The absorption spectrum was investigated at low temperature and the electronic energy levels for (2)F(5/2) multiplet of Yb(3+) in YbAG was proposed. The up-conversion emission of the crystal under 940 nm diode pumping and the X-ray excited luminescence (XEL) features of the crystal were also studied.     

High-resolution optical spectroscopy of Na(3)[Ln(dpa)(3)].13H(2)O with Ln = Er(3+), Tm(3+), Yb(3+)

The title compounds were synthesized and studied by solution and single-crystal absorption, luminescence, and excitation spectroscopy. The f-f luminescence is induced in the Tm(3+) and Yb(3+) complexes in solution by exciting into the (1)Pi-(1)Pi absorptions of the ligand in the UV. A single-configurational coordinate model is proposed to rationalize the nonradiative relaxation step from ligand-centered to metal-centered excited states in [Yb(dpa)(3)](3-) (dpa = 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate). Direct f-f excitation is used in crystals of Na(3)[Tm(dpa)(3)].13H(2)O and Na(3)[Yb(dpa)(3)].13H(2)O to induce f-f luminescence. From low-temperature, high-resolution absorption, luminescence, and excitation spectra, the ligand-field splittings in the relevant states can be determined. It was impossible to induce NIR to VIS upconversion in any of the complexes. This is mainly due to the fact that nonradiative relaxation among the f-f excited states is highly competitive, even in [Yb(dpa)(3)](3-) with an energy gap between (2)F(5/2) and (2)F(7/2) of about 10000 cm(-1). It can be rationalized on the basis of an adapted energy gap law. No luminescence at all could be detected in Na(3)[Er(dpa)(3)].13H(2)O.     

Preparation and photoluminescence properties of RE:Na3La9O3(BO3)8 (RE=Er, Yb) crystals

Using Na₂CO₃-H₃BO₃-NaF as fluxes, transparent RE:Na₃La₉O₃(BO₃)₈ (abbr. RE:NLBO, RE=Er, Yb) crystals have been grown by the top seed solution growth (TSSG) method. The X-ray powder diffraction analysis shows that the RE:NLBO crystals have the same structure with NLBO. The element contents were determined by molar to be 0.64% Er³⁺ in Er:NLBO, 2.70% Yb³⁺ in Yb:NLBO, respectively. The polarized absorption spectra of RE:NLBO have been measured at room temperature and show that both Er:NLBO and Yb:NLBO have a strong absorption bands near 980 nm with wide FWHM (Full Wave at Half Maximum) (21 nm for Er:NLBO and 25 nm for Yb:NLBO). Fluorescence spectra have been recorded. Yb:NLBO has the emission peaks at 985 nm, 1028 nm and 1079 nm and the emission peak of Er:NLBO is at 1536 nm. Spectral parameters have been calculated by the Judd-Ofelt theory for Er:NLBO and the reciprocity method for Yb:NLBO, respectively. The calculated values show that Er:NLBO is a candidate of 1.55 μm laser crystals and Yb:NLBO is a candidate for self-frequency doubling crystal.     

Anti-Stokes Yb3+ emission--valuable structure information in spectra of rare earth compounds measured with FT-Raman spectrometers

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful and simple method which proved to be very useful in studies of solids. The most widely used Raman spectrometers are FT-Raman instruments with YAG:Nd(3+) laser as an excitation source. However, in the case of samples containing rare earth elements, the quality of FT-Raman spectra is often low due to strong fluorescence effects. We show that, in such cases, anti-Stokes part of the Raman spectra often contains strong, well resolved bands identified as multiphonon-assisted emission bands of Yb(3+) present as an impurity. We show on several examples that analysis of these bands may provide useful structure information, similar to that obtained by "Eu structure probe" method in optical spectroscopy. The Yb(3+) emission can be also measured using standard luminescence detection systems. However, the application of FT-Raman system allows one to obtain good quality spectra in a much cheaper, easier and faster way (in times as short as a few seconds). Moreover, high-sensitivity of FT-Raman spectrometers allows to detect even very small amounts of Yb(3+) impurity.     

Spectroscopic properties of Er(3+)/Yb(3+) co-doped Bi(2)O(3)-B(2)O(3)-GeO(2) glasses

Er(3+)/Yb(3+) co-doped 60Bi(2)O(3)-(40 - x)B(2)O(3)-xGeO(2) (BBG; x=0, 5, 10, 15 mol%) glasses that are suitable for fiber lasers, amplifiers have been fabricated and characterized. The absorption spectra, emission spectra, and lifetime of the (4)I(13/2) level and quantum efficiency of Er(3+):(4)I(13/2) --> (4)I(15/2) transition were measured and calculated. With the substitution of GeO(2) for B(2)O(3), both Delta lambda(eff) and sigma(e) decrease from 75 to 71 nm and 9.88 to 8.12 x 10(-21) cm(2), respectively. The measured lifetime of the (4)I(13/2) level and quantum efficiency of Er(3+):(4)I(13/2) --> (4)I(15/2) transition increase from 1.18 to 1.5 ms and 36.2% to 43.2%, respectively. The emission spectra of Er(3+):(4)I(13/2) --> (4)I(15/2) transition was also analyzed using a peak-fit routine, and an equivalent four-level system was proposed to estimate the stark splitting for the (4)I(15/2) and (4)I(13/2) levels of Er(3+) in the BBG glasses. The results indicate that the (4)I(13/2) --> (4)I(15/2) emission of Er(3+) can be exhibit a considerable broadening due to a significant enhance the peak A, and D emission.     

Porous YAG:Nd3+ fibers with excitation and emission in the human "NIR optical window" as luminescent drug carriers

The design and preparation of luminescent drug carriers has been a prosperous area of research for many years. However, the excitation and/or emission wavelength of such luminescent drug carriers haven't been optimized in the so-called human "near infrared (NIR) optical window", thus restricting their practical applications. Herein, we report the synthesis of electrospun porous YAG:Nd(3+) (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) fibers with both excitation and emission in the "NIR optical window" as luminescent drug carriers. The YAG:Nd(3+) porous fibers were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, scanning transmission electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDX), and photoluminescence (PL). Ibuprofen (IBU) was used as a model drug to evaluate the drug-loading capacities and release profiles of the samples. BMSCs (bone mesenchymal stem cells) were used as model human cells to investigate cytotoxicity. Our results indicated that the YAG:Nd(3+) fibers possessed a fine, irregularly porous fibrous morphology with an average diameter of 378 nm. The florescence of the sample (1064 nm) could be excited over a wide wavelength range in the NIR region. During the release process of IBU in simulated body fluid (SBF), along with the dissolving of the drug, the solvent entered into the pores, and the emission intensity of the YAG:Nd(3+) fibers at 1064 nm decreased gradually, owing to a quenching effect of the hydroxy groups, thus provided an approach to track and monitor drug release. In addition, cytotoxicity investigations revealed that these YAG:Nd(3+) fibers were biocompatible with human cells. Consequently, the porous YAG:Nd(3+) fibers are a promising material for applications as advanced drug carriers.     

Effect of thermal annealing on the kinetics of rehydroxylation of Eu3+:La2O3 nanocrystals

Europium-doped lanthanum oxide (5 mol % Eu(3+):La(2)O(3)) was prepared by calcining europium-doped lanthanum hydroxide (5 mol % Eu(3+):La(OH)(3)) previously synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. Interestingly, we observed different emission Eu(3+) signatures depending on the phase of the host (lanthanum oxide or hydroxide) by cathodoluminescence. Taking into account that lanthanum oxide easily rehydroxylates in air, for the first time, we report the use of cathodoluminiscence as a novel characterization technique to follow the lanthanum oxide rehydroxylation reaction versus time according to different annealing procedures. Additionally, differential thermal-thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to identify the phases formed from the Eu(3+):La(OH)(3) depending on temperature and to study the evolution of La(2)O(3) to La(OH)(3) versus time. The results showed that the higher the temperature and the longer the annealing time, the higher the resistance to rehydroxylation of the Eu(3+):La(2)O(3) sample.