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Structure and intense UV up-conversion emissions in RE3+-doped sol–gel glass-ceramics containing KYF4 nanocrystals

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Abstract

Transparent nano-glass-ceramics containing KYF4 nanocrystals were successfully obtained by the sol–gel method, doped with Eu3+ and co-doped with Yb3+ and Tm3+ ions. Precipitation of cubic KYF4 nanocrystals was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscope images. Excitation and emission spectra let us to discern between ions into KYF4 nanocrystals and those remaining in a glassy environment, supplemented with time-resolved photoluminescence decays, that also clearly reveal differences between local environments. Unusual high-energy up-conversion emissions in the UV range were obtained in Yb3+–Tm3+ co-doped samples, and involved mechanisms were discussed. The intensity of these high-energy emissions was analyzed as a function of Yb3+ concentration, heat treatment temperature of precursor sol–gel glasses and pump power, determining the optimum values for potential optical applications as highly efficient UV up-conversion materials in UV solid-state lasers.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank to Agencia Canaria de Investigación, Innovación y Sociedad de la Información y Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) (SolSub200801000286) and Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología of Spain Government (MAT2009-12079) for financial support.

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Correspondence to J. del-Castillo.

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Yanes, A.C., Santana-Alonso, A., Méndez-Ramos, J. et al. Structure and intense UV up-conversion emissions in RE3+-doped sol–gel glass-ceramics containing KYF4 nanocrystals. Appl. Phys. B 113, 589–596 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-013-5514-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-013-5514-2

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