Enhanced up-conversion luminescence and temperature sensing property of Ba3-xSrxLu4O9:Tm3+/Yb3+ phosphors.

Improved up-conversion (UC) luminescence and applications in optical temperature sensors of up-converting materials have attracted growing interest in recent years. Here, we reported a new series of Ba 3-x Sr x Lu 4 O 9 (B 3-x S x LO):Tm3+/Yb3+ phosphors. By designing Yb3+→Tm3+ energy transfer and modifying the local lattice environment of activator ions via cationic substitution, highly efficient enhancement of UC luminescence of Tm3+ is realized when excited by a 980 nm laser. Moreover, the representative B 2.2 S 0.8 LO:Tm3+/Yb3+ sample displays superior temperature sensing behaviors with highly relative sensitivity of 0.88 % at 428 K, absolute sensitivity of 1.50 % at 573 K, wide sensing range and good stability. All of findings reveal that B 3-x S x LO:Tm3+/Yb3+ are promising candidates for optical thermometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]