Highly efficient near-infrared quantum cutting in Ce3+/Yb3+ co-doped chalcohalide glasses

Near-infrared (NIR) quantum cutting involving the emission of two NIR photons for each visible photon absorbed is realized from Ce3+/Yb3+ codoped chalcohalide glasses. Excitation, emission and decay spectra are measured to prove the occurrence of energy transfer (ET) from Ce3+ to Yb3+. The maximum ET efficiency obtained is as high as 82%, and the possible mechanism of ET is discussed. The directly measured and calculated quantum yield (QY) of the Yb3+ emission upon the excitation of 5d level of Ce3+ is up to 119%.