Up-conversion and photon avalanche in oxy-fluoride nano-structured glasses doped with Ho3+

Transparent nano-crystalline glass–ceramics (nano-structured glasses) were prepared from oxy-fluoride precursor glass doped with HoF3 and their luminescence properties were investigated. Visible blue, green and red emissions were observed, and the relative intensity of the green and red emission was strongly dependent on HoF3 concentration. Under 750 nm pumping, the intense green emission due to the photon avalanche process was observed at room temperature from nano-structured glass doped with high (0.5 mol%) concentration of HoF3.