Spectroscopic Investigation of Up-Conversion Properties in Green Emitting BaMgF4:Yb3+,Tb3+ Phosphor.

In this work we have comprehensively studied the up-conversion (UC) properties of BaMgF4:Yb3+,Tb3+ phosphor for the first time. BaMgF4:Yb3+,Tb3+ phosphors were prepared by a simple and low cost precipitation method. To determine the influence of dopant concentration on luminescence properties, the corresponding UC luminescence spectra of BaMgF4:Yb3+,Tb3+ phosphors were studied under NIR excitation. Emission spectra under NIR excitation reveal the vital role of Tb3+ concentration in spectral tuning from the blue to green region. The UC decay curves were also studied to explore the possible energy transfer (ET) mechanisms between Yb3+ and Tb3+. The results reported here are expected to provide an approach for better understanding ET mechanisms in many Yb3+/Tb3+ codoped UC phosphors. This study will be helpful in applications where precisely defined optical transitions is an essential criterion.