Efficient near infrared to visible light upconversion from Er/Yb codoped PVDF fibrous mats synthesized using a direct polymer doping technique

Authors

Saptasree Bose, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Jack Ryan Summers, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Bhupendra B. Srivastava, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Victoria Padilla-Gainza, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Manuel Peredo, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Carlos Trevino De Leon, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Bryan Hoke, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Santosh K. Gupta
Karen Lozano, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2022

Abstract

Highlights

• Direct Rare Earth doping in PVDF Polymer to overcome powder limitation.

• PVDF Fiber with smooth and defect free texture designed by Forcespinning.

• Doping Enhances Beta fraction of PVDF without affecting thermal Stability.

• Efficient upconversion of NIR into visible light in PVDF:Yb3+,Er3+ fibrous mats.

• Two-Photon absorption for both green and red upconversions.

Abstract

Upconverting-materials are capable of converting near infra-red (NIR) excitation into lower wavelengths. These materials could have a myriad of promising potential applications. However, in some areas, its use has been hindered by its low upconversion luminescence (UCL) efficiency and processing/handling disadvantages from luminescent materials in powder form. This work presents a step towards overcoming this limitation, by developing polymer-based fiber membranes without adding external luminescent powders. Herein, we report on the synthesis of Yb3+ and Er3+ codoped polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) and its development into fiber membranes using the Forcespinning® technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were performed to confirm the phase formation, crystallinity and the presence of vibrational bands of the corresponding PVDF matrix. Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis were conducted to investigate the morphological and thermal properties of the codoped nanofibers while the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed efficient doping of the lanthanides in the PVDF fiber. Under exposure to 980 nm NIR illumination, the PVDF:Yb3+,Er3+ fibrous mats exhibited efficient UCL emission in the visible wavelength region (523, 540 and 656 nm). The observed results show a NIR to visible UCL process where the Yb3+ ions act as the sensitizer for the generation of visible upconversion emission from Er3+ ions through an excited state absorption (ESA) and two photon energy transfer (ET) mechanisms. The developed material further opens potential lighting and imaging related applications given the ease of preparation, handling, and flexibility of the developed membranes.

Comments

Original published version available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2021.111866

File retrieved: https://par.nsf.gov/servlets/purl/10420473

Recommended Citation

Bose, Saptasree, et al. "Efficient near infrared to visible light upconversion from Er/Yb codoped PVDF fibrous mats synthesized using a direct polymer doping technique." Optical Materials 123 (2022): 111866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2021.111866

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Publication Title

Optical Materials

DOI

10.1016/j.optmat.2021.111866