Fluorescence and temperature sensing properties of Zr 4+ and Er 3+ codoped Y 2 O 3 prepared by laser annealing

Y 2 O 3 codoped with different Zr 4+ (10% mol, 30% mol, and 49% mol) and constant Er 3+ (2% mol) ions were successfully prepared via the laser annealing method. According to the XRD data, the lattice parameters decrease with the increase of Zr 4+ , and the grain size increases with Zr 4+ . The crystal space group switches from Ia‐3 to Fm‐3 m at a Zr 4+ concentration of 49% mol. As the concentration of doped Zr 4+ increases, the upconversion emission of Er 3+ decreases. The nonequivalent substitution of Y 3+ by Zr 4+ creates lattice defects, which affect the fluorescence intensity of Er 3+ ions in the material. The temperature sensing behavior of Y 88% Zr 10% Er 2% O 1.55 crystals based on the fluorescence intensity ratio between 4 S 3/2 → 4 I 15/2 and 4 I 9/2 → 4 I 15/2 transitions of Er 3+ is studied. The results show that after codoping with Zr 4+ , the 4 S 3/2 → 4 I 15/2 and 4 I 9/2 → 4 I 15/2 transitions satisfy the Boltzmann distribution formula at temperatures above 333K. And the temperature sensing relative sensitivity can reach 2.96%K −1 .