Influence of morphology and Yb3+ concentration on blue and red luminescence of uniform cube-like Y2O3:Yb3+/Tm3+ particles

Well-dispersed cube-like Y2O3:Yb3+/Tm3+ particles have been prepared via solvothermal route using carbon microspheres as template followed by a heat treatment. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results demonstrate that all the diffraction peaks of the samples can be well indexed to the pure cubic phase of Y2O3. SEM images reveal the existence of some rough pores on the surface of cubic Y2O3:Yb3+/Tm3+ particles. Intense blue emission (1G4 → 3H6) and weak red emission (1G4 → 3F4, 3F2,3 → 3H6) of Tm3+ were observed for the Yb3+ and Tm3+ co-doped Y2O3 particles under 975 nm infrared excitation. The results show that the integrated intensity of visible emission strongly depends on the uniform and well-dispersed morphology and the concentration of Yb3+ ions. Well-dispersed cube-like Y2O3:Yb3+/Tm3+ particles with rough surface can remarkably increase the blue and red emission intensity of Y2O3:Yb3+/Tm3+ particles, which might have potential application in the fields of infrared detection, advanced flat panel displays and biological fluorescent labeling.