Multi-Wavelength Excitable Multicolor Upconversion and Ratiometric Luminescence Thermometry of Yb[sup.3+]/Er[sup.3+] Co-Doped NaYGeO[sub.4] Microcrystals

Excitation wavelength controllable lanthanide upconversion allows for real-time manipulation of luminescent color in a composition-fixed material, which has been proven to be conducive to a variety of applications, such as optical anti-counterfeiting and information security. However, current available materials highly rely on the elaborate core–shell structure in order to ensure efficient excitation-dependent energy transfer routes. Herein, multicolor upconversion luminescence in response to both near-infrared I and near-infrared II (NIR-I and NIR-II) excitations is realized in a novel but simple NaYGeO[sub.4]:Yb[sup.3+]/Er[sup.3+] phosphor. The remarkably enhanced red emission ratio under 1532 nm excitation, compared with that under 980 nm excitation, could be attributed to the Yb[sup.3+]-mediated cross-relaxation energy transfers. Moreover, multi-wavelength excitable temperature-dependent (295–823 K) upconversion luminescence realizes a ratiometric thermometry relying on the thermally coupled levels (TCLs) of Er[sup.3+]. Detailed investigations demonstrate that changing excitation wavelength makes little difference for the performances of TCL-based ratiometric thermometry of NaYGeO[sub.4]:Yb[sup.3+]/Er[sup.3+]. These findings gain more insights to manipulate cross-relaxations for excitation controllable upconversion in single activator doped materials and benefit the cognition of the effect of excitation wavelength on ratiometric luminescence thermometry.