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Laser heating effect on the power dependence of upconversion luminescence in Er3+-doped nanopowders

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Abstract

Under 980-nm laser diode excitation, a phenomenon on an over-2-slope in log(I)-versus-log(P) plot for red upconversion (UC) luminescence in Er3+-doped nanopowders is usually observed. Due to the existence of many energy-trapping centers on their surfaces, the laser heating effect is shown very prominently in these nanopowders. In this submission, the influence of laser heating on the power dependence of UC luminescence in NaGdF4:Er3+/Yb3+@Citrate nanopowders is investigated. In the experimental works, sub-20-nm β-NaGdF4:Er3+/Yb3+@Citrate nanoparticles were synthesized at 185 °C through a solvothermal route. Then we found that UC luminescence at 524 and 657 nm displayed an over-2-slope in log(I)-versus-log(P) plot. The over-2-slope for 524-nm UC luminescence can be well explained from the greater proportion of population at the 2H11/2 level, which is thermally populated from the 4S3/2 level, with increase of the excitation power. Cross relaxation of 2H11/2 + 4I13/2 → 4F9/2 + 4I11/2 is proposed to feed 4F9/2 from 2H11/2 levels, which explains the over-2-slope in log(I)-versus-log(P) plot for red two-photon UC luminescence.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially financially supported from the National Key Scientific Program (No. 2012CB933503), the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China (No. 2011J06002), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2012121009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, Fujian, China

    A. H. Li & Z. J. Sun

  2. Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, 157011, Heilongjiang, China

    Q. Lü

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  1. A. H. Li
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  2. Z. J. Sun
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  3. Q. Lü
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Correspondence to A. H. Li.

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Li, A.H., Sun, Z.J. & Lü, Q. Laser heating effect on the power dependence of upconversion luminescence in Er3+-doped nanopowders. J Nanopart Res 15, 1377 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-1377-4

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