Infrared to ultraviolet upconversion luminescence in Nd3+ doped nano-glass-ceramic

Nd3+ doped transparent oxyfluoride glass ceramic containing β-YF3 nanocrystals was prepared and the upconversion luminescence behaviors of Nd3+ in the precursor glass and glass ceramic were investigated. Under 796 nm laser excitation, ultraviolet upconversion emissions of Nd3+ ions at 354 nm (4D3/2 → 4I9/2) and 382 nm (4D3/2 → 4I11/2) were observed at room temperature. Power dependence analysis demonstrated that three-photon upconversion processes populated the 4D3/2 excited state. In comparison with those of the precursor glass, the ultraviolet emissions were enhanced by a factor of 500 in the glass ceramic, which was attributed to the change in the ligand field of Nd3+ ions and the decrease in phonon energy because of the partition of Nd3+ ions into the β-YF3 nanocrystals after crystallization.