Up-conversion luminescence properties with temperature change of strontium tungstate phosphors

Thermally stable SrWO(4):[Er(3+)]/[Yb(3+)] upconversion phosphors were synthesized. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated a crystalline inorganic phosphor material with a tetragonal structure having a clear peak in the (112) phase, which is the main peak. The upconversion phosphor was synthesized using a precursor prepared by co-precipitation and sintered at 800 °C. When the phosphor was excited by a 980 nm laser with a pumping power of 200 mW, a strong green light was emitted. As the concentration of Er(3+) ions increased, it was observed that the emission intensity decreased due to concentration quenching. The changes in the intensity of luminescence according to the pumping power are due to a two-photon process. As the temperature increased, the green emission intensity of the up-conversion phosphor increased. This was thought to be a phenomenon caused by efficient energy transfer between Yb(3+) and Er(3+) ions by the SrWO(4) host with negative thermal expansion. A composite was prepared by mixing phosphor powder and PDMS, that could be used for temperature sensing.