Yb ion as a sensitizer for the upconversion luminescence in nanocrystalline Gd3Ga5O12:Ho

The effect of Yb³⁺ co-doping on the upconversion luminescence in nanocrystalline Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂:Ho³⁺ was examined. Strong and efficient NIR to green anti-Stokes luminescence was noted in nanocrystalline Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂:Ho³⁺, Yb³⁺ after excitation into the ²F_5/2 level of Yb³⁺ with 978 nm radiation. Weaker blue, red and NIR anti-Stokes luminescence was also observed after 978 nm excitation. An enhancement of the red ⁵F₅ → ⁵I₈ luminescence was observed in the anti-Stokes spectrum compared to the Stokes emission spectrum. This enhancement was attributed to two distinct energy transfer upconversion (ETU) mechanisms which preferentially populate the (⁵F₄, ⁵S₂) and ⁵F₅ levels.