Synthesis and up-conversion luminescence properties of a novel K3ScF6: Yb3+, Tm3+ material with cryolite structure

In this paper, K 3 ScF 6 :Yb 3+ , Tm 3+ phosphor with a cubic cryolite phase were prepared by means of high-temperature solid-state method. The crystal structure and up-conversion luminescence properties of Tm 3+ and Yb 3+ co-doped K 3 ScF 6 were investigated in detail. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy disperse spectroscopy (EDS), elemental mapping and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to analyze the elements composition , elemental distribution and valence states of samples. Under an excitation wavelength at 980 nm, all the samples displayed blue and red emission. When gradually increasing the concentration of Tm 3+ in K 3 ScF 6 :0.2 Yb 3+ , Tm 3+ and Yb 3+ in K 3 ScF 6 : 0.01 Tm 3+ , Yb 3+ , the emission intensity of the samples appeared obviously concentration quenching effect, and the optimum concentration of Tm 3+ and Yb 3+ were confirmed to 0.01 and 0.20 mol%. Additionally, the effect of pump power on up-conversion emission intensity and the energy transfer mechanism between the Tm 3+ and Yb 3+ in these samples were analyzed in detail.