title: Spectral Properties and Energy Transfer between Ce(3+) and Yb(3+) in the Ca3Sc2Si3O12 Host: Is It an Electron Transfer Mechanism?
abstract: The downshifting from Ce(3+) blue emission to Yb(3+) near-infrared emission has been studied in the garnet host Ca2.8-2xCe0.1YbxNa0.1+xSc2Si3O12 (x = 0-0.36). The downshifting does not involve quantum cutting, but one incident blue photon is transferred from Ce(3+) to Yb(3+) with an energy transfer efficiency up to 90% when x = 0.36 for the Yb(3+) dopant ion. For x ≤ 0.15, a multiphonon-assisted electric dipole-electric quadrupole mechanism of energy transfer dominates, while for the highest concentration of Yb(3+) employed, the electron transfer mechanism is confirmed. A temperature-dependent increase of the Ce(3+) → Yb(3+) energy transfer rate does not exclusively indicate the electron transfer mechanism. The application of the material to solar energy conversion is indicated.
authors.affiliation: MOE Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou 510275, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: The Hong Kong Institute of Education (The Education University of Hong Kong, designate) , 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, Hong Kong S.A.R., People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.affiliation: Center for Nano Science and Technology, Department of Physics, Anhui Normal University , Wuhu, Anhui 241000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.affiliation: MOE Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou 510275, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Weijie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: MOE Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou 510275, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hongbin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100039, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lirong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng