Synthesis of NaLuF₄:Er³⁺, Yb³⁺, Ce³⁺ nanoparticles and study of photoluminescent properties in C - band

¹ FSRC “Crystallography and Photonics” RAS, “Institute of Photonic Technology” RAS, 142092 Moscow, Troitsk, Russia
² Moscow Technological University, 119571 Moscow, Russia

^* Corresponding author: haidukov_11@mail.ru

Published online: 13 December 2016

Abstract

The novel core@shell nanocrystals β-NaLuF₄@NaLuF₄ co-doped with rare-earth ions Er³⁺, Yb³⁺, Ce³⁺ have been synthesized. The nano-particles indicate the intensive lines of anti-Stokes luminescence in the telecommunication С - band of spectrum when pumped at 970-980 nm. The nanoparticles have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy and spectrofluorimetry. The nanoparticles have a size 40-80 nm and possess the intensive photo-luminescence 73 nm bandwidth centered around 1530 nm. The photo-luminescence kinetics of β-NaLuF₄: Er³⁺/ Yb³⁺/ Ce³⁺ has been studied in IR range of spectrum. We have demonstrated that doping with cerium ions prevents serial stepwise excitation of erbium ions. Consequently, the lifetime of transition in erbium ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 has risen up to 6.9 ms. Intensity of 1530 nm line in Er³⁺ ions excited at 980 nm has been increased up to 6 times. Therefore, the nanoparticles are applicable to fabrication of compact waveguide amplifiers for C - band.