Laser processing of Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped LiYF4 thin films with up-conversion properties

Publication date: 1 March 2017
Source:Thin Solid Films, Volume 625
Author(s): C.E. Secu, M. Secu, F. Stokker-Cheregi, V. Ion, S. Brajnicov, M. Dinescu
We present a comparative study between the properties of Yb³⁺/Er³⁺ co-doped LiYF4 thin films obtained by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and matrix-assisted pulsed evaporation (MAPLE) growth techniques, respectively. We performed structural, morphological, and optical analyses in order to draw a conclusion about the potential of MAPLE as a growth technique used for the obtaining of RE-doped fluoride thin films having up-conversion properties. For both techniques the surface morphology is typical for laser processed thin films of RE-doped fluorides, with roughness values of the order of few hundreds of nanometers and a higher density of defects in the sample obtained by MAPLE. Up-conversion properties do not exhibit major differences between the thin film samples and the pressed target. Under 980nm laser light pumping, both Yb³⁺/Er³⁺ co-doped LiYF4 thin film samples, obtained by PLD and MAPLE, show green ((² H 11/2, ⁴ S 3/2)→ ⁴ I 15/2) and red (⁴ F 9/2 → ⁴ I 15/2) up-conversion luminescence explained by a two-photon processes. Therefore MAPLE is a viable growth technique for the fundamental study of RE-doped fluoride thin films and their respective functional properties.