Upconversion Luminescence Properties of Y 2 O 3 :Yb, Er and Y 2 O 2 S:Yb, Er Nanoparticles Prepared by Complex Precipitation

• Published in: Journal of nanomaterials Vol. 2015; no. 1
• Main Authors: Tian, Ying, Fu, Yao, Xing, Mingming, Luo, Xixian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2015
• ISSN: 1687-4110; 1687-4129
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/573253

The Yb 3+ , Er 3+ doped Y 2 O 3 and Y 2 O 2 S upconversion nanophosphors were prepared by the direct complex precipitation method with the mixed solution of NH 4 HCO 3 and NH 3 ·H 2 O as the complex precipitant. The precipitate of calcined at 900°C in air presents the pure Y 2 O 3 with cubic structure, and the calculated crystalline size is about 26 nm, while the Y 2 O 2 S:Yb, Er nanocrystals were obtained by annealing the same precipitate at 900°C but in the atmosphere of N 2 gas containing sulfur vapor. The obtained sample presents the pure hexagonal structure of Y 2 O 2 S with calculated crystalline size of 29 nm. According to the transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), the nanophosphors exhibit uniform quasispherical shape and size about 30 nm. By using the 980 nm excitation laser, the properties of upconversion luminescence and energy transfer processes were studied in detail for the different concentration of Yb 3+ in Er 3+ doped Y 2 O 3 as well as the Yb 3+ , Er 3+ codoped Y 2 O 2 S nanocrystals. The high‐efficient red and yellow upconversion emissions were both observed by naked eyes in day time corresponding to the Y 2 O 3 :Yb, Er and Y 2 O 2 S:Yb, Er phosphors, respectively. Thus the upconversion nanoparticles combining its high efficient emission would pave the way for ideal fluorescence probes in biological applications.