Optimization of the low temperature combustion synthesis of Er3+ doped lead–natrium–yttrium–fluoride phosphor

The low-temperature combustion synthesis (LCS) method is the most popular method for the synthesis of ultrafine oxides and compound oxides. A kind of Er-Y-Pb-Na quaternary fluoride sensitive to 1.55 μm was synthesized by the LCS method and the synthesis conditions were optimized with orthogonal experiments. Intense upconversion emissions at 522 nm, 541.4 nm and 654.7 nm corresponding to the 2H11/2, 4S3/2 and 4F9/2 transitions to the 4I15/2 ground state were observed when excited by CW laser radiation at 1.55 μm. The effect of the carbamide amount on the phase formation and the luminescence intensity was analyzed. The product is of uniform particle size of ca. 40 nm, which is very outstanding for its reutilization in the infrared detection field.