Intense up-conversion luminescence in Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped CeO2 powders

The Er3+ and Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped CeO2 powders have been prepared by a urea combustion route. The structural, morphological, compositional and vibrational analysis of the Er3+:CeO2 and Er3+/Yb3+:CeO2 powders have been studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The optical and luminescence properties of Er3+:CeO2 and Er3+/Yb3+:CeO2 powders have been studied by using laser excited spectroscopy. The effects of Yb3+ doping on up-conversion luminescence of Er3+ co-doped CeO2 powders were studied. The ratio of red to green intensity is decreased in Er3+:CeO2 whereas the ratio is increased in Er3+/Yb3+:CeO2 powders with increase of power. The effect of co-doping with the Yb3+ ions on the visible luminescence of Er3+ and the energy transfer mechanism responsible for the variation in the green and red intensity are discussed. The results indicate that these materials may be suitable for display and light emitting devices. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.