Upconversion photoluminescence of ZrO2:Er3+ nanocrystals synthesized by using butadinol as high boiling point solvent

Abstract Erbium doped ZrO 2 (ZrO 2 :Er 3+ ) nanocrystals are prepared by a butadinol low thermal crystallization method. The crystallization temperature is reduced to 500 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra show there exists monoclinic and cubic ZrO 2 phases. Green, yellow and red lights are seen from the upconverting luminescence spectra under 980 nm excitation. The results confirm that upconverting emission is due to excited-state absorption (ESA) and energy transfer upconverting (ETU) process.