Efficient UV–visible up-conversion emission in Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped La2O3 nano-crystalline phosphor

A nano-crystalline La2O3: Er3+/Yb3+ phosphor sample has been synthesized through the solution combustion route using urea as a reducing agent. Thermal, structural and optical characterizations have been carried out to explore several of its properties. By thermal analysis one concludes to the presence of moisture and hydroxide phases [La(OH)3 and LaOOH] of lanthanum in the as-synthesized sample, which further changes to La2O3 phase above 600°C temperature. Up-conversion (UC) study shows the intense emission bands in the UV, blue, green and red regions. This paper also reports the first observation of UC emission bands extending up to the UV (240 nm) region on excitation with 976 nm wavelength. Heat treatment of the samples shows a change in the crystallite phase along with crystallite growth and relative UC luminescence intensities. The input pump power dependence shows the involvement of up to four photons.