High thermal sensitivity and the selectable upconversion color of Ln, Yb:Y ₆ O ₅ F ₈ nanotubes

Yb(3+)-sensitized, Ln(3+)(Er(3+), Pr(3+))-doped Y6O5F8 micron-sized bundles of highly crystalline individual nanotubes have been prepared through hydrothermal syntheses at 185 °C. The inhomogeneous broadening observed in their optical spectra is associated with the large distribution of crystal fields around Y(3+)(Ln(3+)) sites in the orthorhombic Pbcm Vernier-type Y6O5F8 host. Based on ratiometric analyses of the thermal evolution of intensities of near-infrared NIR (∼978 nm)-excited green upconversion emissions corresponding to (2)H11/2, (4)S3/2 → (4)I15/2 Er(3+) transitions, the temperature sensing behaviour of Er, Yb:Y6O5F8 was studied. This thermal sensor exhibits a very high sensitivity S = 0.0060 K(-1) at physiological temperatures (22-50 °C), which surpasses the S value found for Er, Yb:β-NaYF4 at these temperatures, and a maximum S = 0.0082 K(-1) at ∼225 °C. Also under NIR diode laser excitation, the color of the upconverted light from codoped Pr, Er, Yb:Y6O5F8 nanotubes can be selected by the control of the Pr(3+) concentration and by the excitation regime and power density. Samples with low Pr(3+) concentration emit green light, and the selection between bluish-green light and white light has been demonstrated with high Pr(3+) concentration (2 mol%), under pulsed or continuous wave excitation, respectively.