Broad-Scope Thermometry Based on Dual-Color Modulation up-Conversion Phosphor Ba5Gd8Zn4O21:Er3+/Yb3+

Yb3+/Er3+ codoped Ba5Gd8Zn4O21 up-conversion (UC) phosphors with tunable emission were synthesized using a facile sol–gel method. UC spectra are composed of green emission from 2H11/2/4S3/2 → 4I15/2 transitions and red emission from 4F9/2 → 4I15/2 transition of Er3+ ion with the excitation of 980 nm laser diodes. Modulation of emitting color from green to red could be achieved by adjusting dopant concentrations or pulse width of 980 nm laser. The mechanism of the former strategy was figured out through analyzing visible and near-infrared (NIR) down-conversion emission spectra together with the corresponding green level (4S3/2) lifetimes under excitation of 490 nm light, and the latter method was explained by the non-steady-state up-converison process. Temperature detection range was expanded to low temperature region by utilizing red-emitting stark levels of Er3+ ion as thermally coupled levels. Thermal sensing performances based on green-emitting levels (2H11/2/4S3/2) and red emitting stark levels (4F9/2...