Up-conversion luminescence properties and temperature sensing performances of Ba5Y8Zn4O21:Yb3+, Er3+ phosphors

• Ba 5 Y 8 Zn 4 O 21 :Yb 3+ , Er 3+ up-conversion emission phosphors were fabricated. • Optimal green and red emission samples were successfully acquired. • The reason for the decrease of green emission were explained reasonably. • Temperature sensing behaviors were explored based on fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR). • The maximum relative sensitivity (S R ) is 1.36 × 10 −2 K −1 (at 293 K). A serials of Er 3+ single-doped and Yb 3+ , Er 3+ co-doped Ba 5 Y 8 Zn 4 O 21 phosphors were manufactured through high-temperature solid-state reaction technique to explore the application for optical thermometer. In the course of experiment, the samples were designed based on the orthogonal experimental method to find the optimal sample with the strongest green emission that can bring in high measurement accuracy. The relationship between doping content and luminescent intensity was systematically explored and the variation tendencies of green and red emission intensity were presented intuitively. Er 3+ single-doped phosphors exhibit bright up-conversion emission under stimulation of 980 nm laser. With the addition of Yb 3+ , the characteristic emission intensity of Er 3+ was greatly enhanced. Based on the luminescent features, the power dependent spectra and the energy structure of Yb 3+ and Er 3+ , conceivable luminescent mechanism was deduced. Meanwhile, the temperature sensing behaviors were explored by the temperature dependent up-conversion spectra. The maximum relative sensitivity ( S R ) is 1.36 × 10 −2 K −1 (at 293 K). The above investigations manifest that the Yb 3+ , Er 3+ co-doped Ba 5 Y 8 Zn 4 O 21 phosphors have potential applications for optical thermometer.