Intense up-conversion emissions of Yb³⁺/Dy³⁺ co-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders prepared by non-aqueous sol–gel method

Yb³⁺/Dy³⁺ co-doped Al₂O₃ nanopowders have been prepared by the non-aqueous sol-gel method and their up- conversion photoluminescence spectra are measured under excitation by 980-nm semiconductor laser. The results show that there are comparatively abundant spectra of up-conversion emissions centered at 378, 408, 527 and 543, and 663 nm, corresponding to ⁴G_9/2 → ⁶H_13/2, ⁴G_9/2 → ⁶H_11/2, ⁴I_15/2 → ⁶H_13/2, and ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_11/2 transitions of Dy³⁺, respectively. Two-photon and three-photon processes are involved in ultraviolet, violet, green, and red up-conversion emissions. The energy transition between Yb³⁺ and Dy³⁺ is discussed.