Cryolite is a suitable host for up-conversion luminescent materials due to its low phonon energy and good optical transparency. In this work, a novel up-conversion material K3YF6:Yb3+, Er3+ with a cryolite structure was prepared successfully by a solid state method. The crystal structure, morphology, composition and up-conversion luminescence properties of the as-prepared sample were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence spectrometer in detail. K3YF6:Er3+, Yb3+ has a cryolite structure. Under 980 nm excitation, the as-prepared sample can generate slight green emission at 524 and 546 nm (attributed to 2H11/2 → 4I15/2 transition, 4S3/2→4I15/2 transition of Er3+) and strong red emission at 661 and 672 nm (corresponding to 4F9/2 → 4I15/2 transition, 4I9/2 → 4I15/2 transition of Er3+). All the green and red up-conversion emission of K3YF6:Er3+, Yb3+ transfer and electronic transition process of the red and green light the sample emitted, the possible luminescence mechanism is discussed in this paper.
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