Upconversion Luminescence from Ho³⁺ and Yb³⁺ Codoped α-NaYF₄ Single Crystals

The Ho³⁺/Yb³⁺ co-doped α-NaYF₄ single crystal was grown successfully for the first time by a modified Bridgman method in which KF was used as assisting flux and a large temperature gradient (70-90 oC/cm) of solid-liquid interface was adopted. Upconversion emissions at green ～544 nm, red ～657 and ～751 nm were obtained under 980 nm laser diode excitation. The intensity at ～544 nm was much stronger than those of ～657 and ～751 nm. The mechanisms of the upconversion emissions were investigated by studying the relationship between the upconversion intensity and pump power. The optimized Yb³⁺ concentration was about 8.08 mol% when Ho³⁺ concentration was hold at about 1.0 mol%. The results showed that Ho³⁺/Yb³⁺+ doped α-NaYF₄ single crystal was a possible candidate upconversion material for the green solid-state laser.