Mathieu Berard

Efficient oxide phosphors for light upconversion; green emission from Yb3+ and Ho3+ co-doped Ln2BaZnO5 (Ln = Y, Gd)

The optical properties of Yb3+ and Ho3+ co-doped Y2BaZnO5, synthesized by solid-state reactions, are investigated in detail. Under 977 nm excitation (∼25 × 10−3 W mm−2), bright green upconversion emission is observed. Concentration dependence studies at room temperature show that relatively high infrared to visible upconversion efficiencies are obtained with values up to ∼2.6%. The results of power dependence studies and temperature-dependent lifetime measurements allow us to determine the dominant upconversion mechanisms in Yb3+:Ho3+ co-doped Y2BaZnO5oxides. The materials presented in this article constitute new and efficient upconversion phosphors which may find utility in a variety of applications.

Oxide phosphors for efficient light upconversion: Yb3+ and Er3+ co-doped Ln2BaZnO5 (Ln = Y, Gd)

The optical properties of Yb3+ and Er3+ co-doped Ln2BaZnO5 (Ln = Y or Gd), synthesized by solid-state reaction, are investigated in detail. Two main emission bands centered around 548 nm (green) and 673 nm (red) are observed under 977 nm laser excitation via an upconversion process. Studies of the behavior as a function of dopant concentration are described and relatively high infrared to visible upconversion efficiencies of ∼5% are obtained at room temperature. Under modulated 977 nm excitation and for fixed dopant concentrations, the upconverted emission chromaticity can be varied by changing the excitation duration. The results of power dependence studies and lifetime measurements are presented. This detailed study of the upconversion processes allows us to identify the dominant upconversion mechanisms in Yb3+,Er3+ co-doped Ln2BaZnO5 oxides.

Efficient white light emission by upconversion in Yb3+-, Er3+- and Tm3+-doped Y2BaZnO5

We report efficient white upconversion luminescence in Yb(3+)-, Er(3+)- and Tm(3+)-doped monophasic and biphasic Y(2)BaZnO(5) phosphors under 977 nm near-infrared excitation and at low excitation power densities (down to ∼25 mW mm(-2)).

Oxide phosphors for light upconversion; Yb3+ and Tm3+ co-doped Y2BaZnO5

The optical properties of Yb3+ and Tm3+ co-doped Y2BaZnO5, synthesized by solid-state reaction, are investigated in detail. Three main emission bands centered around 479 nm (blue), 654 nm (red), and 796 nm (near-infrared) are observed under near-infrared laser excitation via an upconversion process. Detailed studies of the upconversion properties as a function of dopant concentrations are described and upconversion efficiencies quantified precisely. Maximum efficiencies of ∼ 1.53% in the 730-870 nm near-infrared emission range and of ∼ 0.09% in the 420-530 nm blue range are obtained. The results of power dependence studies and concentration dependent lifetime measurements are presented. This in-depth spectroscopic study allows us, for the first time, to identify the dominant processes involved in the upconversion mechanism of Yb3+, Tm3+ co-doped Y2BaZnO5 oxides.

Near infrared up-conversion in organic photovoltaic devices using an efficient Yb3+:Ho3+ Co-doped Ln2BaZnO5 (Ln = Y, Gd) phosphor

The first detailed study that combines the use of a new generation of high-efficiency Yb3+:Ho3+ co-doped Y2BaZnO5 near-infrared up-converting phosphors with organic photovoltaic devices is reported. We show that it is possible to obtain a Jsc of 16 μA cm−2 under 986 nm illumination (∼390 mW cm−2 corresponding to ∼37 suns) leading to an up-conversion external quantum efficiency (ηEQEUC) of 0.0052%. Through modification of the organic photovoltaic devices to incorporate transparent electrodes we show that ηEQEUC could be increased to 0.031 %, matching that achieved in amorphous-Si:H PV cells. Accounting for the full spectral range that may be absorbed by the phosphor (∼870–1030 nm) yields an up-conversion power conversion efficiency (ηPCEUC) of 0.073% which again could be improved to 0.45% using transparent electrodes. This technique for utilizing the near-infrared spectral region may therefore offer a potential route to improving the performance of organic photovoltaic devices as research into discovering ...

Plasmon-induced modification of fluorescent thin film emission nearby gold nanoparticle monolayers.

When placed in the vicinity of metal nanoparticles, fluorophore molecules can have their fluorescence intensity enhanced. In order to engineer highly fluorescent thin films, surface plasmon enhancement fluorescence was studied on macroscopic systems composed of gold nanoparticles deposited on a substrate and coated by a dye-containing polymer film. We developed a simple method based on surface silanization to get a good dispersion of up to 100 nm gold nanoparticles on a substrate. While controlling the nanoparticle size and the fluorophore concentration, we measured the fluorescence enhancement factors of systems doped with dyes possessing different quantum yields. We evidenced experimentally that a fluorescence enhancement factor of 4 could be reached for a low-quantum yield dye and that the fluorophore quantum yield affects significantly the enhancement factor. We then discussed how our experimental results agree with previously developed models.