Enhanced photoluminescence of Y2O3:Er3+ thin films by Li+ co-doping

The enhancement of the photoluminescence from Y2O3:Er3+ thin films with Li+ co-doping is reported. The characteristic Er3+ related emission spectra showed an intensity increase by a factor of ∼4–5 times with the addition of 2% of Li+. This behavior is attributed to the distortion of the local crystalline field induced by the incorporation of Li+. The films were deposited at 500 °C by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique on (1 0 0) silicon wafers. The films were the polycrystalline with a pure Y2O3 cubic phase. The addition of Li+ reduces the intensity of the diffraction peaks after 1%, and shifts the main diffraction peak toward large angles for Li+ doping less than 3%. FTIR spectra were used to monitor the incorporation of Li-species in the films.