Efficient near-infrared downconversion and energy transfer mechanism in Tb-Yb co- doped NaYF4 nanoparticles

Tb-Yb co-doped NaYF4 nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared by sintering the assynthesized NaYF4:Tb, Yb NPs at 380°C under air atmosphere. The oxidization of Tb ions to Tb ions in NaYF4 NPs after sintering is demonstrated through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The near-infrared (NIR) downconversion (DC) luminescence of TbYb couple is measured and investigated for the first time. The results show that DC luminescence of Tb-Yb couple enhance obviously compared with Tb-Yb couple in assynthesized sample. The enhancement factor is about 14 and 19 excited at 379nm and 487nm, respectively. On analyzing the exponential dependence of NIR fluorescence intensity on the pumping power, we reveal that the energy transfer (ET) mechanism from Tb to Yb in NaYF4 NPs occurs by the single-step ET process. Our study may provide a promising DC layer on the top of silicon-based solar cells to improve the photovoltaic conversion efficiency. © 2016 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: (160.5690) Rare-earth-doped materials; (250.5230) Photoluminescence; (260.2160) Energy transfer; (160.4236) Nanomaterials. References and links 1. L. Aarts, B. Van der Ende, and A. Meijerink, “Downconversion for solar cells in NaYF4: Er, Yb,” J. Appl. Phys. 106(2), 023522 (2009). 2. D. Chen, Y. Yu, Y. Wang, P. Huang, and F. Weng, “Cooperative energy transfer up-conversion and quantum cutting down-conversion in Yb: TbF3 nanocrystals embedded glass ceramics,” J. Phys. Chem. C 113(16), 6406–6410 (2009). 3. L. Lin, J. Chen, C. Deng, L. Tang, D. Chen, and L. Cao, “Broadband near-infrared quantum-cutting by cooperative energy transfer in Yb-Bi co-doped CaTiO3 for solar cells,” J. Alloys Compd. 640, 280–284 (2015). 4. X. Chen, S. Li, G. J. Salamo, Y. Li, L. He, G. Yang, Y. Gao, and Q. Liu, “Sensitized intense near-infrared downconversion quantum cutting three-photon luminescence phenomena of the Tm:ion activator in Tm:Bi:YNbO4 powder phosphor,” Opt. Express 23(3), A51–A61 (2015). 5. L. Lin, H. Lin, Z. Wang, J. Chen, R. Huang, X. Rao, Z. Feng, and Z. Zheng, “Quantum-cutting of KYF4:Tb,Yb under multiple excitations with high Tb concentration,” Opt. Mater. 36(6), 1065–1069 (2014). 6. K. Deng, T. Gong, L. Hu, X. Wei, Y. Chen, and M. Yin, “Efficient near-infrared quantum cutting in NaYF4: Ho, Yb for solar photovoltaics,” Opt. Express 19(3), 1749–1754 (2011). 7. B. Zheng, S. Xu, L. Lin, Z. Wang, Z. Feng, and Z. Zheng, “Plasmon enhanced near-infrared quantum cutting of KYF4: Tb, Yb doped with Ag nanoparticles,” Opt. Lett. 40(11), 2630–2633 (2015). 8. Y. S. Xu, F. Huang, B. Fan, C. G. Lin, S. X. Dai, L. Y. Chen, Q. H. Nie, H. L. Ma, and X. H. Zhang, “Quantum cutting in Pr-Yb codoped chalcohalide glasses for high-efficiency c-Si solar cells,” Opt. Lett. 39(8), 2225– 2228 (2014). 9. A. Guille, A. Pereira, C. Martinet, and B. Moine, “Quantum cutting in CaYAlO4: Pr, Yb,” Opt. Lett. 37(12), 2280–2282 (2012). 10. I. Terra, L. Borrero-González, J. Carvalho, M. Terrile, M. Felinto, H. Brito, and L. Nunes, “Spectroscopic properties and quantum cutting in Tb–Yb co-doped ZrO2 nanocrystals,” J. Appl. Phys. 113(7), 073105 (2013). #269540 http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OME.6.002769 Journal © 2016 Received 29 Jun 2016; revised 1 Aug 2016; accepted 1 Aug 2016; published 8 Aug 2016 Vol. 6, No. 9 | 1 Sep 2016 | OPTICAL MATERIALS EXPRESS 2769