Spectroscopic properties of Er3+–Yb3+ co-doped glass ceramics containing BaF2 nanocrystals

A Er3+ and Yb3+ co-doped transparent oxyfluoride glass ceramic containing BaF2 nanocrystals has been prepared. The formation of BaF2 nanocrystals in the glass ceramic was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Intense upconversion luminescence in the Er3+ and Yb3+ co-doped glass ceramic could be observed. Stark splitting of the Er3+ upconversion luminescence peaks in the glass ceramic indicated that Er3+ and Yb3+ had been incorporated into the BaF2 nanocrystals. Near infrared luminescence decay curves showed that the Er3+ and Yb3+ co-doped glass ceramic had higher luminescence efficiency than the precursor glass.