Morphology Controllable Synthesis of ScF3:Er3+, Yb3+ Nano/Sub-Microncrystals by Hydrothermal/Solvothermal Process

Abstract

In this paper, red phosphors Yb3+–Er3+ co-doped ScF3 nano/microcrystals were successfully prepared by a facile hydrothermal/solvothermal route using the sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) as the surfactant. The structure, morphologies and up-conversion (UC) photoluminescence properties of the as-prepared products were well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectra, respectively. The SEM images show that the obtained samples are the uniform cubic and cuboid crystals. With the increase of the surfactant SDBS or the change in the solvent types, the sample change their size from nanometer to submicron. Upon the 980 nm laser diode excitation, the ScF3:Er3+, Yb3+ nanocrystals exhibit red emission which can be assigned to the characteristic 4F9/2/4I15/2 transition of Er3+. In order to understand the emission mechanisms of ScF3:Er3+, Yb3+ nanocrystals, the dependence of UC luminescence intensity on the 980 nm excitation power was measured, suggesting that the UC phenomenon results from a two-photon process. Meanwhile, the emission intensities of the Yb3+–Er3+ codoped ScF3 nano/sub-micro crystals with different solution composition show an obvious change under the 980 nm laser excitation. Therefore, the phosphors Yb3+–Er3+ co-doped ScF3 possibly have a potential application in the biological applications.