Visible and near-infrared upconversion in α-sialon ceramics

Abstract

α-Sialon ceramics are well known for highly stressed structural engineering applications owing to their inherently outstanding mechanical and thermo-chemical stability. However, the possibilities of the functional applications such as frequency upconversion in α-sialon ceramics have been scarcely investigated. Here, very intense visible and near-infrared frequency upconversion as well as frequency downconversion emissions are reported for the first time in Er³⁺, Ho³⁺, and Tm³⁺ triply doped α-sialon ceramics under 980 nm excitation. α-Sialon ceramics are prepared using a hot press sintering technique. Efficient energy transfer processes between the dopant ions are found to be responsible for the observed emissions. The upconversion process is governed by a two-photon absorption process. The energy transfer efficiency in the triply doped system is 95.8% while that in Er³⁺/Ho³⁺ and Er³⁺/Tm³⁺ systems is 71.6% and 66.3%, respectively. Triple doping results in the combination of the emission properties found in the co-doped Er³⁺/Ho³⁺ and Er³⁺/Tm³⁺ systems and it also reveals a cooperative emission behavior which is not possible with only two dopants. These findings open up the possibility of potential application of the Er³⁺/Ho³⁺/Tm³⁺ doped α-sialon ceramic as an optical material in which efficient luminescent properties can co-exist along with the excellent mechanical and thermo-chemical stability.