Phase Transformation and Intense 2.7 [mu]m Emission from Er3+ Doped YF3/YOF Submicron-crystals

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 3; p. 1598
• Main Authors: Chai, Guanqi, Dong, Guoping, Qiu, Jianrong, Zhang, Qinyuan, Yang, Zhongmin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group 01.04.2013
• Subjects: Crystals; Electron microscopes; Electron microscopy; Fourier transforms; Lasers; Luminescence; Particle size; Photons; Transmission electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction; Yttrium
• ISSN: 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/srep01598

Yttrium fluoride YF3 :Er3+ and yttrium oxyfluoride YOF:Er3+ submicron-crystals with mid-infrared fluorescent emissions were synthesized for the first time. The rhombohedral phase YOF submicron-crystals were synthesized by the crystalline phase transformation from pure orthorhombic YF3 submicron-crystals, which were prepared by co-precipitation method. The composition and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which showed that submicron-crystals were quasi-spherical with the particle size of ~400 nm. A novel formation mechanism of YOF submicron-crystals was proposed. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra indicated the 2.7 μm emission of Er3+ has remarkably enhanced with the increase of Er3+ doping concentration, and a novel dynamic circulatory energy transfer mechanism was proposed. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) were used to demonstrate the change of hydroxyl content. These oxyfluoride submicron-crystals provide a new material for nano/submicron-crystals-glass composites, and open a brand new field for the realization of mid-infrared micro/nano-lasers.