Abstract
A new strategy is reported to enhance the upconversion (UC) luminescence emission of LiYF4:Yb, Er nanocrystals (NCs) using magnesium as a dopant. We carried out systematic experimental studies on the crystal structure, grain size, and UC emitting property of the tetragonal LiYF4:Yb, Er with varied concentrations of Mg2+. The UC luminescence properties were examined under 980 nm laser illumination with various excitation power densities. At a proper doping concentration, co-doping of Mg2+ ions into LiYF4:Yb, Er is found to result in efficient reinforcement in both the green and red upconverted emissions. Remarkably, the maximum green and red luminescence intensities were reinforced by sevenfold and fivefold, respectively, when 7 mol% Mg2+ was co-doped into tetragonal LiYF4. The possible origin and mechanism for boosting UC emission were explained according to the alteration of the cell volume and the local crystal field surrounding the Er3+ ions by co-doping of Mg2+. Moreover, the emission-optimized LiYF4 UCNCs were further investigated to understand thermal-sensing behaviors employing the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) approach from the two neighboring thermal coupled states (2H11/2/4S3/2). The optimization of Mg2+ co-doping in LiYF4:Yb, Er allowed the resultant UCNCs to be an excellent luminescent thermometer over a wide range of temperature. Applying the optimized UCNCs as an optical thermometer, a maximum thermal sensitivity (S) of 5.43 × 10–2 K−1 was achieved at room temperature and a low-power excited upconversion (1 W cm−2). The achieved S value is more advanced than most of the Er-based nanophosphors reported heretofore. This paper provides a perspective scheme to design and grow high-quality upconversion nanomaterials for achieving the preconditions of the pragmatic application in temperature sensing, optically heating, and color display devices.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. Fernandez-Bravo, K. Yao, E.S. Barnard, N.J. Borys, E.S. Levy, B. Tian, C.A. Tajon, L. Moretti, M.V. Altoe, S. Aloni, Nat. Nanotechnol. 13, 572 (2018)
M.S. Sebag, Z. Hu, K.D.O. Lima, H. Xiang, Z. Chen, ACS Appl Energy Mater. 1, 3537 (2018)
X.S. Deng, C.X. Zhang, J.F. Zheng, X. Zhou, M.D. Yu, X.H. Chen, S.M. Huang, Appl. Surf. Sci. 485, 332 (2019)
Q.Y. Guo, J.H. Wu, Y.Q. Yang, X.P. Liu, J.B. Jia, J. Dong, Z. Lan, J.M. Lin, M.L. Huang, Y. Wei, J. Power Sources 426, 178 (2019)
M.Y. Zhao, B.H. Li, P.Y. Wang, L.F. Lu, Z.C. Zhang, L. Liu, S.F. Wang, D.D. Li, R. Wang, F. Zhang, Adv. Mater. 30, 1804982 (2018)
Q.Q. Ma, J. Wang, Z.H. Li, X.B. Lv, L. Liang, Q. Yuan, Small 15, 1804969 (2019)
K.K. Zhang, Q. Zhao, S.R. Qin, Y. Fu, R.Z. Liu, J.F. Zhi, C.G. Shan, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 537, 316 (2019)
V. Fiorenzo, N. Rafik, Z. Alicia, J.D.L.F. Angeles, S.R. Francisco, M.M. Laura, M.R. Emma, J. Daniel, G.S. José, J.A. Capobianco, ACS Nano 4, 3254 (2010)
L. Labrador-Páez, M. Pedroni, A. Speghini, J. García-Solé, P. Haro-González, D. Jaque, Nanoscale 10, 22319 (2018)
X. Chen, D.F. Peng, Q. Ju, F. Wang, Chem. Soc. Rev. 44, 1318 (2015)
X. Qin, X.W. Liu, W. Huang, M. Bettinelli, X.G. Liu, Chem. Rev. 117, 4488 (2017)
D.Q. Chen, J.S. Zhong, M.Y. Ding, Z.G. Ji, Sci. Adv. Mater. 9, 359 (2017)
X.G. Liu, C.H. Yan, J.A. Capobianco, Chem. Soc. Rev. 44, 1299 (2015)
E. Van der Kolk, P. Dorenbos, K. Krämer, D. Biner, H.-U. Güdel, Phys. Rev. B 77, 125110 (2008)
K.W. Krämer, D. Biner, G. Frei, H.U. Güdel, S.R. Lüthi, Cheminform 35, 1244 (2010)
V. Mahalingam, F. Vetrone, R. Naccache, A. Speghini, J.A. Capobianco, Adv. Mater. 21, 4025 (2009)
G.Y. Chen, T.Y. Ohulchanskyy, K. Aliaksandr, A. Hans, P.N. Prasad, ACS Nano 5, 4981 (2011)
M.Y. Ding, C.H. Lu, L.H. Cao, W. Huang, Y.R. Ni, Z.Z. Xu, CrystEngComm 15, 6015 (2013)
F.E. Auzel, Proc IEEE 61, 758 (2005)
J.C. Wright, D.J. Zalucha, H.V. Lauer, D.E. Cox, F.K. Fong, J. Phys. Chem. C 44, 781 (1973)
Y.F. Bai, Y.X. Wang, K. Yang, X.R. Zhang, G.Y. Peng, Y.L. Song, J. Phys. Chem. C 112, 12259 (2008)
Q. Chen, J.H. Sui, C. Wei, Nanoscale 4, 779 (2012)
W.B. Niu, S.L. Wu, S.F. Zhang, L.T. Su, A.I.Y. Tok, Nanoscale 5, 8164 (2013)
C. Würth, S. Fischer, B. Grauel, A.P. Alivisatos, U. Resch-Genger, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 55, 1 (2018)
S. Stefan, A. Thomas, H.Q. Wang, N. Thomas, B. Oliver, Nano Lett. 10, 134 (2010)
Z.Q. Li, X.D. Li, Q.Q. Liu, X.H. Chen, Z. Sun, C. Liu, X.J. Ye, S.M. Huang, Nanotechnology 23, 025402 (2012)
D.G. Yin, C.C. Wang, J. Ouyang, K. Song, B. Liu, X.Z. Cao, L. Zhang, Y.L. Han, X. Long, M.H. Wu, Dalton Trans. 43, 12037 (2014)
G. Tian, Z.J. Gu, L.J. Zhou, W.Y. Yin, X.X. Liu, L. Yan, S. Jin, W.L. Ren, G.M. Xing, S.J. Li, Adv. Mater. 24, 1226 (2012)
S.L. Gai, C.X. Li, P.P. Yang, J. Lin, Chem. Rev. 114, 2343 (2013)
X.W. Wang, X. Zhang, Y.G. Wang, H.Y. Li, J. Xie, T. Wei, Q.W. Huang, X.J. Xie, L. Huang, W. Huang, Dalton Trans. 46, 8968 (2017)
S.W. Zhao, W. Liu, X.Y. Xue, Y.S. Yang, Z. Zhao, Y. Wang, B. Zhou, RSC Adv. 6, 81542 (2016)
C. Homann, L. Krukewitt, F. Frenzel, B. Grauel, C. Würth, U. Reschgenger, M. Haase, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 57, 8765 (2018)
G.Y. Chen, H.C. Liu, G. Somesfalean, Y.Q. Sheng, H.J. Liang, Z.G. Zhang, Q. Sun, F.P. Wang, Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 113114 (2008)
L.H. Tian, S. Mho, Solid State Commun. 125, 647 (2003)
B.P. Singh, J. Singh, R.A. Singh, RSC Adv. 4, 32605 (2014)
G.Y. Chen, H.C. Liu, H.G. Liang, G. Somesfalean, Z.G. Zhang, J. Phys. Chem. C 112, 12030 (2008)
Z.S. Chen, T.F. Chen, W.P. Gong, W.Y. Xu, D.Y. Wang, Q.K. Wang, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 96, 1857 (2013)
L. Lei, D.Q. Chen, J. Xu, R. Zhang, Y.S. Wang, Chemistry 9, 728 (2014)
F. Wang, Y. Han, C.S. Lim, Y. Lu, J. Wang, J. Xu, H. Chen, C. Zhang, M. Hong, X. Liu, Nature 463, 1061 (2010)
H. Na, J.S. Jeong, H.J. Chang, H.Y. Kim, K. Woo, K. Lim, K.A. Mkhoyan, H.S. Jang, Nanoscale 6, 7461 (2014)
S. Sinha, M.K. Mahata, K. Kumar, New J. Chem. 43, 5960 (2019)
R. Dey, A. Kumari, A.K. Soni, V.K. Rai, Sens. Actuators B 210, 581 (2015)
Z. Chen, G.B. Wu, H. Jia, K. Sharafudeen, W.B. Dai, X.W. Zhang, S.F. Zeng, J.M. Liu, R.F. Wei, S.C. Lv, J. Phys. Chem. C 119, 24056 (2015)
P. Kubelka, F. Munk, Z Tech. Phys. 12, 593 (1931)
J. Tauc, Mater. Res. Bull. 5, 721 (1970)
J.L. Rupp, E. Fabbri, D. Marrocchelli, J.W. Han, D. Chen, E. Traversa, H.L. Tuller, B. Yildiz, Adv. Funct. Mater. 24, 1562 (2014)
A.J. Deotale, R. Nandedkar, Mater. Today 3, 2069 (2016)
H.J. Liang, G.Y. Chen, H.C. Liu, Z.G. Zhang, J. Lumin. 129, 197 (2009)
S.A. Wade, S.F. Collins, G.W. Baxter, J. Appl. Phys. 94, 4743 (2003)
F. Vetrone, R. Naccache, A. Zamarron, ACS Nano 4, 3254 (2010)
A. Oliveria, Appl. Phys. Lett. 72, 753 (1998)
O. Savchuk, J. Carvajal, C. Brites, L. Carlos, M. Aguilo, F. Diaz, Nanoscale 10, 6602 (2018)
K.M. Du, X. Xu, S. Yao, P.P. Lei, L.L. Dong, M.L. Zhang, J. Feng, H.G. Zhang, Cryst. Eng. Commun. 20, 1945 (2018)
L.H. Fischer, G.S. Harms, O.S. Wolfbeis, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 50, 4546 (2011)
M.K. Mahata, K. Kumar, V.K. Rai, Sens. Actuators B 209, 775 (2015)
Z.Y. Wang, H. Jiao, Z.L. Fu, Inorg. Chem. 57, 8841 (2018)
P. Du, L.H. Luo, X.Y. Huang, J.S. Yu, Colloid Interface Sci. 514, 172 (2018)
B.P. Kore, A. Kumar, L. Erasmus, R.E. Kroon, J.J. Terblans, S.J. Dhoble, H.C. Swart, Inorg. Chem. 57, 288 (2017)
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (Nos. 18ZR1411900, 18ZR1411000) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 11274119).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Deng, X., Yu, M., Zhou, X. et al. Highly bright and sensitive thermometric LiYF4:Yb, Er upconversion nanocrystals through Mg2+ tridoping. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 31, 3415–3425 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-02890-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-02890-1