Unique spectral overlap and resonant energy transfer between Eu2+ and Yb3+ : no quantum cutting

Samples of the Ca3Sc2Si3O12 (CSS) host singly-doped with Eu2+ or Yb3+, doubly-doped with Eu2+ and Yb3+, and triply-doped with Ce3+, Eu2+ and Yb3+ were synthesized by a sol-gel combustion process under reducing conditions. Unlike previous reports of Eu2+ → Yb3+ energy transfer in other systems, the energy transfer is resonant in the CSS host and the transfer efficiency reaches 100% for lightly-doped samples. The transfer mechanism is multipolar rather than electron transfer for the sample compositions employed herein. The emission intensity of Yb3+ is further enhanced by co-doping with Ce3+ in addition to Eu2+. The quantum efficiencies of the doped materials range between 9% and 93%.