Structural and optical properties of Er3+/Yb3+ doped barium titanate phosphor prepared by co-precipitation method.

In the present work we have synthesized the Er(3+)/Yb(3+) codoped barium titanate phosphor via co-precipitation method and studied its upconversion emission properties. The prepared BaTiO3 powder was found in cubic phase as a major component and having good crystallinity revealed by the XRD analysis. Optical band gap of the cubic barium titanate was calculated using the diffuse reflectance absorption spectrum. Good green upconversion emission is observed from the samples when excited by 980 nm diode laser. The variation in upconversion emission intensity is studied with the increase in excitation power as well as temperature of the sample. It is found that the emission bands centred at 524 and 548 nm are thermally coupled and can act as a temperature sensor in the 300-480 K temperature range.