Orange up-conversion in TiO₂-ZnO composite ceramics fabricated by metal organic decomposition

Abstract

The phenomenon of photon up-conversion (UC) has attracted considerable research interest for its application to fields as diverse as bioimaging and photovoltaics. In this study, we report on the concentration dependence of Zn₂TiO₄:Yb³⁺, Er³⁺ on UC emission. Upon investigating Mg, Ti, and Zn as potential UC host materials, we find that the combination of Ti and Zn yields the most increase in luminous efficiency. Further, as a result of varying the molar ratio, a high-intensity emission spectrum is observed for the ratios of Zn : Ti = 44 : 56 and 50 : 50. The samples prepared in this study exhibit excellent moisture resistance, and they can be utilized in solar cells and lighting equipment.