Sensitized intense near-infrared downconversion quantum cutting three-photon luminescence phenomena of the Tm(3+) ion activator in Tm(3+)Bi(3+):YNbO(4) powder phosphor.

In present study, the intense sensitized three photon near-infrared quantum cutting luminescence of Tm(3+) ion activator in Tm(3+)Bi(3+):YNbO(4) powder phosphor is reported. It is induced both by [{(1)G(4)→(3)H(4), (3)H(6)→(3)H(5)} or {(1)G(4)→(3)H(5), (3)H(6)→(3)H(4)}] and {(3)H(4)→(3)F(4), (3)H(6)→(3)F(4)} cross-energy transfer. We found that the 1820.0 nm (3)F(4)→(3)H(6) luminescence intensity of Tm(0.08)Bi(0.01)Y(0.91)NbO(4) powder phosphor excited by 302.0 nm is 151 and 8.38 times larger, compared to Tm(0.005)Y(0.995)NbO(4) excited by 302.0 and 468.0 nm, in which the quantum cutting takes place between Tm(3+) ions and Bi(3+) ion only acts as sensitizer. To the knowledge of the authors, it is the first time that the effective Bi(3+) sensitized near-infrared quantum cutting of Tm(3+) ion activator has been reported. It can facilitate the probing of the next-generation environmentally friendly germanium solar cell.