Investigation of infrared to visible light upconversion in oxyfluorophosphate glass containing Yb3⁺/Er3⁺ ions
摘要
A spectral upconversion glass made from oxyfluorophosphate containing Er3+/Yb3+ ions (OFP-ErYb glasses) was fabricated using the melt/quenching technique. A host glass network composed of 50P2O5-20PbO-15CaF2-14MgF2-1Er2O3 (OFP:Er3+) was prepared and incorporated with 2.5, 5, and 7.5 mol% of Yb2O3, substituting for CaF2, resulting in OFP:Er3+/Yb3+-1, OFP:Er3+/Yb3+-2, and OFP:Er3+/Yb3+-3 glasses. Structural variations from including Yb3+ ions into the host OFP:Er3+ glass were analyzed via X-ray diffraction (XRD), density measurements, density-based parameters, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. The high density of Yb2O3, local environmental changes, and the high polarizability of Yb3+ ions, significantly impacted the structure of the host OFP:Er3+ glass. As a crucial factor in spectral conversion materials, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and ultrasonic velocity measurements assessed thermal stability and elasticity. The fabricated glasses exhibited high thermal stability and adequate elasticity, indicating their potential as conversion materials for various applications. Distinctive absorption bands of the Er3+ ions detected in the 200–1100 nm region. The energy was successfully transferred from Yb3⁺ to Er3⁺ upon excitation at 980 nm, generating two intense red emissions at 648 nm and 734 nm, along with two weaker green emissions at 550 nm and 578 nm. The chromaticity coordinates for OFP:Er3+/Yb3+-1, OFP:Er3+/Yb3+-2, and OFP:Er3+/Yb3+-3 correspond to yellowish-white, yellowish-white, and pinkish-red, with color purities of 20.91%, 35.91%, and 24.25%, respectively. A significant increase in emission intensity was observed at 5 mol% of Yb3+ (OFP:Er3+/Yb3+-2 glass), whereas a quenching effect of 7.5 mol% (OFP:Er3+/Yb3+-3 glass), caused a reduction in emission intensity. Therefore, the 5:1 Er3+/Yb3+ ratio (OFP:Er3+/Yb3+-2 glass) in the oxyfluorophosphate glass demonstrated highly efficient upconversion of NIR light at 980 nm to visible light at 550, 578, 648, and 734 nm, along with excellent thermal stability and good elasticity, making it an ideal option for photonics and optoelectronics materials.