Enhanced 1.5 μm emission of Tm3+ via Pr3+ deactivation in PbF2 crystal

Boosting the Downconversion Luminescence of Tm3+-Doped Nanoparticles for S-Band Polymer Waveguide Amplifier

“…Similar to erbium-doped waveguide amplifiers (EDWAs) operating at the C-band, the S-band amplification is able to be realized using the luminescence of thulium ions (Tm 3+ ) at ∼1470 nm from their 3 H 4 → 3 F 4 transition. − Although Tm 3+ -doped nanoparticles have been developed for optical communication applications recently, it still remains a formidable challenge to obtain its efficient downconversion luminescence due to the inherent 1 order of magnitude longer lifetime of 3 F 4 level than that of upper 3 H 4 level of Tm 3+ ions. − Over the past few years, codoping deactivated ions such as Tb 3+ , Ho 3+ , and Pr 3+ have been proposed to accelerate the depopulation of 3 F 4 level of Tm 3+ ions and increase their near-infrared luminescence; however, these demonstrations are mostly confined to bulk crystals and there has yet to emerge a viable solution for enhancing the downconversion luminescence of Tm 3+ in nanosystems. − Herein, we report a facile and versatile method for boosting the near-infrared emission of Tm 3+ under 980 nm excitation. Through Tb 3+ doping, we obtain a one-fold photoluminescence quantum yield enhancement at 1464 nm in NaYbF 4 :Tm/Tb@NaYF 4 nanoparticles.…”