Enhanced red upconversion emission and energy transfer of Tm3+/Cr3+/Yb3+ tri-doped transparent fluorosilicate glass-ceramics

Abstract In this paper, the upconversion (UC) emission of Tm3+/Cr3+/Yb3+ tri-doped in SiO2–AlF3–BaF2–La2O3 transparent fluorosilicate glass-ceramics (SGC) containing Ba2LaF7 nanocrystals were investigated. The enhancement of red UC emission of Tm3+/Cr3+/Yb3+ tri-doped in SiO2–AlF3–BaF2–La2O3 transparent SGC were also investigated. Through the energy transfer processes between Cr3+ and Tm3+, and the combination of Cr3+-Tm3+ led to the red UC emission intensity of Tm3+/Cr3+/Yb3+ tri-doped transparent SGC bands centered at ~806 and ~858 nm has been significantly enhanced. The CIE chromaticity coordinates for UC emission of Tm3+/Cr3+/Yb3+ tri-doped in SGC-0.2Tm1Cr2Yb transparent SGC sample is calculated (x = 0.704; y = 0.296) and the UC emission of Tm3+/Cr3+/Yb3+ tri-doped in SiO2–AlF3–BaF2–La2O3 transparent SGC has been identified in red color region of CIE chromaticity coordinates. In addition, the ET processes between Cr3+ and Tm3+ are also proposed and discussed.