Enhancement of the 1.5 µm emission in Y2O3:Er3 +nanocrystals by codoping with Li+ions

Y2O3:Er3 + nanocrystals codoped with Li + ions were synthesized by the glycine combustion method. Codoping with Li + ions leads to an enhancement of at most 19 times in the photoluminescence (PL) intensity around 1.5 µm, in terms of the increased lifetimes in the intermediate 4I13/2 of the Er3 + state from 3.14 to 13.28 ms at room temperature. The Li + ions can be introduced easily and cannot destroy the structure of the Y2O3:Er3 + nanocrystals. The phosphor may be promising for optical amplifiers, lasers, active waveguides in telecommunications and remote-sensing applications.