Effect of glass-ceramics network intermediate Al2O3 content on up-conversion luminescence in Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped NaYF4 oxy-fluoride glass-ceramics

Effect of alumina as a glass network intermediate on the up-conversion luminescence (UCL) in NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped oxy-fluoride glass-ceramics (GCs) was investigated. Combinations of smaller NaYF4 nanocrystals (10 and 13 nm) and lower Al2O3 contents (5% and 10%), as well as larger NaYF4 nanocrystals (26 and 40 nm) and higher lower Al2O3 contents (15% and 20%) were prepared after heat-treatment, respectively. The glass network of intermediate partial replacement of SiO2 with Al2O3 was investigated, and the consequence on the response to the up-conversion of the lanthanide ions was also studied. The UCL properties of Er3+ ions were changed in accordance with the addition of Al2O3, the red UCL intensity decreased with an increased Al2O3 concentration, while the green emission intensity showed opposite tendency. Our results showed that adding Al2O3 to 20 mol% is an effective strategy to simultaneous control of the magnitude and luminescence properties of lanthanide ion doped GCs.