1National Institute of Laser Enhancement Sciences (NILES), Cairo University, Egypt.
2National Research Center (NRC), Department of Solid State Physics, Cairo, Egypt.
*Corresponding author: I.K. Battisha.
Barium titanate (BaTiO3) with crystallite size in the nanometer (nm) range has been prepared by the sol-gel method. XRD results confirm that the synthesized prepared samples crystallize into tetragonal phase on heat treatment at 750°C. All major peaks corresponding to perovskite BaTiO3 phase appeared with (110) as the major peak. The structural study revealed that the crystallite size of the prepared sample was about 39 nm The XRD data were confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM).
Efficient infrared-to-visible up-conversion is reported in the prepared samples, co-doped with 1%Er3+: 3% Yb3+ ions. The conversion process is observed under 808 nm laser diode excitation and results in the generation of green and red emissions.
The main mechanism that allows for up-conversion is ascribed to energy transfer among Er3+ and Yb3+ ions in their excited states. Upconversion efficiency for red emission predominates in samples doped with Er3+: Yb3+. The results illustrate the large potential of this class of materials for photonic applications in optoelectronics devices.
Spin coating sol-gel, thin films, up-conversion, BaTiO3 nano-crystals, Er3+: Yb3+
