Optical properties of Er3+: NaYbS2 nanocrystals in oxysulfide glass-ceramics

Ternary alkali rare-earth sulfide (ALnS2) has excellent luminescent performance, showing promising application prospects in the field of light-emitting diodes and optical communication. However, the poor chemical stability of ALnS2 makes it difficult to meet the needs of practical application. Herein, we develop a new type of oxysulfide glass-ceramics containing NaYbS2 nanocrystals (NCs) through conventional melt-quenching and subsequent heat treatment. NaYbS2 NCs and Er3+: NaYbS2 NCs are successfully precipitated in oxysulfide glass-ceramics, and their optical properties are studied. NaYbS2 NCs in glass-ceramics exhibit strong concentration quenching with the increase in heat-treatment temperature. Incorporation of Er3+ ions into NaYbS2 NCs results in efficient energy transfer (ET) from Yb3+ ions to Er3+ ions with efficiency as high as 90.9 %.