Luminescent characters of Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped ZrO2–Al2O3 phosphors

Abstract By solid-state synthesis method, Er 3+ /Yb 3+ co-doped Al 2 O 3 phosphors were prepared. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and luminescence spectra of the samples were measured. Under 975 nm excitation, the up- and down-conversion emissions of the samples un-doped and doped with Zr 4+ ion were studied. The intensities of up-conversion red emission and near infrared fluorescence in the sample doped with Zr 4+ ion are stronger than those in the sample un-doped with Zr 4+ ion. The full width at half-maximum of the near infrared fluorescence in the Zr 4+ ion doped sample is 159 nm. The results show that the luminescent characters of the Er 3+ /Yb 3+ co-doped Al 2 O 3 phosphors are relaxed to the Zr 4+ ion concentration. Our materials are helpful in developing Er 3+ amplifier.