Near-infrared and blue cooperative Yb3+ luminescence in Lu3Sc2Ga3O12 nano-garnets
Highlights: • Lu{sub 3}Sc{sub 2}Ga{sub 3}O{sub 12} nano-garnets doped with Yb{sup 3+} ions were synthesized by sol-gel method. • Concentration dependent structural and luminescence properties were investigated. • Variation of blue cooperative luminescence as a function of laser pump power has been studied. • Mechanism of blue cooperative luminescence of Yb{sup 3+} ions in these nano-garnets has been described. - Abstract: Nanocrystalline Lu{sub 3}Sc{sub 2}Ga{sub 3}O{sub 12} garnet powders doped with different concentrations of trivalent ytterbium (Yb{sup 3+}) ions have been prepared by sol-gel method. These garnet nano-powders have been characterized for their structural and luminescence properties using X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance and luminescence spectra. Near-infrared and blue cooperative upconversion luminescence spectra and decay curves of Yb{sup 3+} ions in these nano-garnets have been measured as a function of the optically active ion concentration. Quenching of near-infrared and cooperative luminescence intensity beyond 5.0 mol% of Yb{sup 3+} ion concentration have been observed. Variation of blue cooperative luminescence intensity with pump power has also been discussed.