Visible to near infrared energy transfer in Ce<sup>3+</sup>, Yb<sup>3+</sup> co-doped YAG crystal prepared by the co-precipitation method
Kun Yue, Zhou You, Ke Pan, Jianxiang Wen, Ming Jia, Tingyun Wang
Abstract
Nanoscaled Ce 3+ , Yb 3+ co-doped yttrium aluminum garnets (YAG: Ce 3+ , Yb 3+ ) with Yb 3+ concentration of 0–5 mol% were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. The microstructure and surface morphology of the samples were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. The energy transfer (ET) from Ce 3+ to Yb 3+ in YAG: Ce 3+ , Yb 3+ was verified by excitation spectra, emission spectra, and the luminescence decay time. The maximum ET efficiency ( η ET ) and the theoretical total quantum efficiency ( η QE ) reach 91.2% and 191.2%, respectively. The near infrared cathodoluminescence (CL) of Yb 3+ was also investigated. Compared to the single-doped YAG: Ce 3+ , co-doped YAG: Ce 3+ , Yb 3+ shows a 2.3 times higher emission intensity, demonstrating the possibility of the ET process in CL. The YAG: Ce 3+ , Yb 3+ prepared by the co-precipitation method can be used as a potential scintillator for high energy radiation applications.