Preparation of Er,Nd Codoped Y2O3 Transparent Ceramics and their Upconversion and Downconversion Mechanisms

Abstract

Transparent ceramics nowadays finds applications in infrared windows, lamps covers, optoelectronic devices, smart phone screens and especially as host materials for solid-state lasers. One such ceramic material, Y₂O₃ was considered in the present investigation and the effect of neodymium (Nd) and erbium (Er) at different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 at%) was studied. Transparent ceramic pellets were synthesized by co-precipitation method, sintered at high vacuum and finally polished. Structural characterizations confirmed the presence of cubic phase and scanning electron micrographs established the compactness of the samples with no secondary phase. The ceramics were found to have good transparency around 75%. Refractive index measurements showed least absorption at higher wavelengths which ensures good transmission properties. The upconversion and downconversion mechanisms are discussed in detail with varying Er concentration for different excitation wavelengths. The observations clearly indicate green and red emissions which ensure the effective utilization of these transparent ceramics as dual mode emitters.