Visible red random lasing in Y2O3:Eu3+/ZnO polycrystalline thin films by energy transfer from ZnO films to Eu3

Visible red random lasing centered at ∼611 nm has been observed in Y2O3:Eu3+/ZnO films at room temperature. Using a 355 nm laser source to excite the ZnO films, ultraviolet (UV) random lasing has been observed. The UV lasing spectrum can be tuned to overlap strongly with the F70-L56 excitation spectrum of Eu3+ ions centered at ∼394 nm by controlling the pump power, leading to very efficient radiative energy transfer from the ZnO films to Eu3+ ions. As a result, a red random lasing centered at ∼611 nm corresponding to the D50-F72 transition of Eu3+ ions was observed.