White emission of stable Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+-tridoped Y2O3–ZnO ceramic phosphor tuned by altering Tm3+ concentration and excitation laser pump power

In this study, a series of well-crystallized Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+-tridoped Y2O3–ZnO ceramic phosphors were prepared using sol–gel synthesis, and the phosphor structures were studied using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The phosphors had excellent physical stability and porous structure. All phosphors generated blue, green, and red emission bands attributed to Tm: 1G4→3H6, Er: 2H11/2 (4S3/2)→4I15/2, and Er: 4F9/2 → 4I15/2 radiative transitions, respectively. The emissions were intensified twice by tuning the Tm3+ ratio in the host matrix Y2O3 and ZnO parts. The color coordinates were adjusted by tuning both the Tm3+ concentration and the excitation laser pump power to shift the color coordinates and only enhance the brightness, respectively. Meanwhile, heating phosphors can also linearly adjust the color coordinates of the luminescence. Therefore, it can also be used as a fluorescence thermometer in the field of temperature sensor. The study findings will broaden the phosphor practical application potential.