Ultraviolet upconversion emissions of Gd^3+

Under 980 nm excitation, upconversion (UC) emissions in the UV range of 270-320 nm were observed in nanocrystals Y(0.795-x)Gd(x)Yb(0.2)Tm(0.005)F(3) (x=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 0.795), which were synthesized through a hydrothermal method. These UC emissions can be assigned to the transitions of (6)I(J), (6)P(J)-->(8)S(7/2)(Gd(3+)), and (3)P(0)/(1)I(6)-->(3)H(6) (Tm(3+)). The energy transfer from Tm(3+) to Gd(3+) plays a crucial role in populating the excited states of Gd(3+). The shortest wavelength of upconverted emission converted from the infrared region was demonstrated here.