Preparation and optical properties of silver sensitized 6Y–ZrO2: Er3+ translucent ceramics.

We report a facile method to enhance the photoluminescence of 6Y–ZrO 2 : Er3+ translucent ceramics prepared via the vacuum sintering technique by introducing Ag. Ag atoms could be incorporated into the host at high temperatures; these atoms partially precipitated to form Ag nanoparticles during cooling. The intensities of green up-conversion, 1.5 and 2.7 μm emissions under 980 nm excitation, and the green down-conversion luminescence upon 377 nm excitation were improved via co-doping with Ag due to the modification of the local crystal field and the surface plasmon resonance effect. Based on the fluorescence intensity ratio of 2H 11/2 → 4I 15/2 versus 4S 3/2 → 4I 15/2 , 6Y–ZrO 2 : 1 mol%Er3+, 0.67 μmol%Ag exhibited the maximal relative sensing sensitivity of 1.12 %K−1, which could be applied as a potential thermometer with good sensitivity. The present work sheds light on how to simultaneously enhance the emission intensity and thermal sensitivity of Er3+ in ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]