Tunable Emission and Color Temperature of Yb/Er/Tm-Tridoped YO-ZnO Ceramic Nano-Phosphors Using Er Concentration and Excitation Pump Power.

In this study, a series of well-crystallized Yb/Er/Tm-tridoped YO-ZnO ceramic nano-phosphors were prepared using sol-gel synthesis, and the phosphor structures were studied using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The phosphors were well crystallized and exhibited a sharp-edged angular crystal structure and mesoporous structure consisting of 270 nm nano-particles. All phosphors generated blue, green, and red emission bands attributed to Tm: G→H, Er: H (S)→I, and Er: F→I radiative transitions, respectively. Increasing in luminescent centers, weakening of lattice symmetry, and releasing of dormant rare earth ions can enhance all emissions. Er can obtain energy from Tm to enhance green and red emission. These colors can be tuned by optimizing the doping concentrations of the Er ion. The color coordinates were adjusted by tuning both the Er concentration and excitation laser pump power to shift the color coordinates and correlated color temperature. The findings of this study will broaden the potential practical applications of phosphors.