Innovative approach to tailoring upconversion luminescence in Yb3+/Eu3+ doped CaZrO3 perovskite host matrix

This study presents the synthesis and characterization of upconverter nanostructures consisting of a perovskite host matrix, CaZrO 3 , co-doped with trivalent ytterbium (Yb 3+ ) and europium (Eu 3+ ), denoted as CaZrO 3 :Yb 3+ /Eu 3+ . Single-doped CaZrO 3 :Eu 3+ samples were excited using a 394 nm UV source, while CaZrO 3 :Yb 3+ /Eu 3+ samples were excited with a 980 nm diode laser source. Yb 3+ ions efficiently absorb the 980 nm light and transfer the absorbed energy to the nearby ion Eu 3+ ions, leading to the emission of visible light around 590, 614, and 655 nm, respectively. The emission spectra of Eu 3+ ions exhibit an initial increase with increasing Yb 3+ concentration, peaking at 7 mol%, followed by a decrease due to luminescence quenching. The decay lifetime of Eu 3+ ions under 300 nm excitation decreases simultaneously with increasing Yb 3+ concentration, indicating energy migration between Yb 3+ and Eu 3+ . Detailed explanations of the energy transfer mechanism between Yb 3+ and Eu 3+ ions are provided, supported by equations and diagrams. This study provides valuable insights into the optimization of dopant concentrations for enhancing upconversion luminescence in CaZrO 3 :Yb 3+ /Eu 3+ nanostructures, with 3 mol% Eu 3+ concentration identified as optimal based on preliminary experiments. The findings presented in this paper contribute to the understanding of energy transfer processes in luminescence upconversion materials and highlight the potential of CaZrO 3 :Yb 3+ /Eu 3+ nanostructures for applications in lighting, displays, and bio-imaging. This work represents a significant advancement in the field of upconversion luminescence emission, particularly in the utilization of CaZrO 3 codoped with Yb 3+ and Eu 3+ , and lays the foundation for further research in this area.