Broadband multicolor upconversion from Yb-Mn codoped fluorosilicate glasses and transparent glass ceramics.

In contrast to well-known upconversion (UC) emission from Yb-Mn-codoped crystal, a room-temperature intense broadband UC phenomenon was first observed in both Yb-Mn-codoped fluorosilicate glasses and transparent glass ceramics under 980 nm pumping. The obtained photoluminescence ranged from yellow to white to blue. We attributed this effect to the cooperative UC of Yb and to the formation of Yb-Mn pairs. After heat treatment, KZnF nanocrystals appeared in the glass matrix, as identified by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, and emission intensity increased 45 times. We believe that Yb-Mn-codoped glasses and glass ceramics show great potential as materials for multicolor displays.