Heavy rare-earth-doped ZBLAN glasses for UV-blue up-conversion and white light generation

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• 作者：J. M¨¦ndez-Ramos ; P. Acosta-Mora ; J.C. Ruiz-Morales ; T. Hern¨¢ndez ; M.E. Borges ; P. Esparza
• 关键词：Up-conversion ; Rare-earths ; White light generation ; Water-splitting
• 刊名：Journal of Luminescence
• 出版年：2013
• 出版时间：November, 2013
• 年：2013
• 卷：143
• 期：Complete
• 页码：479-483
• 全文大小：733 K

文摘

Noticeable UV-vis up-conversion luminescence of Er³⁺ and Tm³⁺ ions sensitised by Yb³⁺ ions in ZrF₄-BaF₂-LaF₃-AlF₃-NaF (ZBLAN) fluoride glasses have been obtained under near-infrared excitation at 980 nm. Red, green and blue simultaneous emissions were observed yielding to a white-balanced overall colour. Moreover significant UV up-conversion emissions observed can contribute to enhance spectral response of semiconductor electrode, such as TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃, for sustainable production of hydrogen via water photolysis by harvesting of long wavelength solar irradiation, emerging as an interesting solely luminescent approach for improving water-splitting. Total infrared to UV-vis up-conversion efficiency has been calculated to be at around 46 % . Laboratory tests prove the improvement in the photocatalytic action of a commercial benchmark photocatalyst (TiO₂ Degussa P25) in the decomposition of methylene blue in water under sun-like irradiation, by a factor of 16 % driven by up-conversion effects due to the inclusion of RE-doped ZBLAN powders into a slurry-type photo-reactor.