Multiwavelength excitation confers synergistic upconversion effect from cooperative harvested energy transfer
Abstract
Up to 3.5-fold enhancement in the upconversion (UC) luminescence of activators (Tm3+ and Er3+) in an UC nanocrystal is observed when the sensitisers (Nd3+ and Yb3+) are simultaneously excited. This is due to a coooperative harvested energy transfer to the activators from both direct and indirect-excited Yb3+.