Intense ultraviolet upconversion luminescence of Yb and Tb co-doped glass ceramics containing SrF2 nanocrystals

The preparation and upconversion luminescence properties of the Yb³⁺ and Tb³⁺ co-doped glass ceramics containing SrF₂ nanocrystals were investigated. The formation of SrF₂ nanocrystals was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Both microstructural and spectral analysis indicated that the Yb³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions were enriched in the precipitated SrF₂ nanocrystals, which provide much lower phonon vibration energy than the glass matrix. Due to the efficient cooperative sensitization from Yb³⁺ to Tb³⁺ and the relatively low maximum phonon energy of SrF₂ nanocrystals, the Yb³⁺ and Tb³⁺ co-doped glass ceramics exhibited intense upconversion luminescence, including ultraviolet emission at 382 nm.