title: Phase transformation and intense 2.7 μm emission from Er3+ doped YF3/YOF submicron-crystals.
abstract: Yttrium fluoride YF3:Er(3+) and yttrium oxyfluoride YOF:Er(3+) 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 Er(3+) has remarkably enhanced with the increase of Er(3+) 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.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, and Institute of Optical Communication Materials, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, PR China.
authors.forename: Guanqi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Guoping
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Jianrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Qinyuan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhongmin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D004871:Erbium / Q000737:chemistry*; D005459:Fluorides / Q000737:chemistry*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D008422:Materials Testing; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D044367:Phase Transition; D015019:Yttrium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015019:Yttrium; D004871:Erbium; D005459:Fluorides