Thin-walled Er3+:Y2O3nanotubes showing up-converted fluorescence

Abstract

Up-converted red and green fluorescence has been measured in low-crystallinity Er³⁺:Y₂O₃ nanotubes upon IR excitation. A new preparation procedure for thin-walled erbium doped yttria nanotubes using alumina templates as shape defining tools and rare earth nitrates as precursors for a purely thermolytic production of erbium doped yttria was developed. The products with a diameter of approximately 40–50 nm and a wall thickness of only 6–8 nm showed up-converted fluorescence with green and red emission bands when excited at 815 nm. The fluorescence properties are compared to the ones of bulk erbium-doped yttria obtained from the same precursor system.