New triple tungstate phosphors NaPbLa(WO4)3:Yb3+/Ho3+ (x = Yb3+/Ho3+ = 7, 8, 9, 10) are successfully fabricated by microwave assisted sol-gel synthesis and their structural and frequency upconversion (UC) characteristics are investigated. The compounds crystallized in the tetragonal space group I41/a and the NaPbLa(WO4)3 host have unit cell parameters a = 5.3927(1) and c = 11.7961(3) Å, V = 343.05(2) Å3, Z = 4. Under excitation at 980 nm, the phosphors have yellowish green emissions, which are derived from the intense 5S2/ 5F4 → 5I8 transitions of Ho3+ ions in the green spectral range and strong 5F5 → 5I8 transitions in the red spectral range. The optimal Yb3+:Ho3+ ratio is revealed to be x = 9, which is attributed to the quenching effect of Ho3+ ions, as indicated by the composition dependence. The UC characteristics are evaluated in detail under consideration of the pump power dependence and Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage chromaticity. The spectroscopic features of Raman spectra are discussed in terms of the superposition of Ho3+ luminescence and vibrational lines. The possibility of controlling the spectral distribution of UC luminescence by the chemical content of tungstate hosts is demonstrated.

Ho3+/Yb3+/Tm3+ tri-doped NaY1-x(WO4)2 phosphors with proper doping concentrations of Ho3+, Yb3+ and Tm3+ (x = Ho3+ +Yb3+ +Tm3+, Ho3+ = 0.04, 0.03, 0.02, 0.01, Yb3+ = 0.35, 0.40, 0.45, 0.50 and Tm3+ = 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04) were successfully synthesized via the microwave sol-gel route, and their upconversion properties were investigated. Well-crystallized microcrystalline particles showed fine and homogeneous microcrystalline morphology with particle sizes of 1-2 μm. The optical properties were comparatively examined using photoluminescence emission and Raman spectroscopy. Under excitation at 980 nm, the doped particles exhibited white emissions based on blue, green and red emission bands, which correspond to the 1G4→ 3H6 transitions of Tm3+ in the blue region, the 5S2/ 5F4→ 5I8 transitions of Ho3+ in the green region, the 5F5→ 5I8 transitions of Ho3+, and the 1G4→ 3F4 and 3H4→ 3H6 transitions of Tm3+ in the red region. The pump power dependence of the upconversion emission intensity and the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage chromaticity coordinates of the phosphors were evaluated in detail.

NaCaLa1-x(MoO4)3:Ho3+/Yb3+ ternary molybdates with proper doping concentrations of Ho3+ and Yb3+ (x = Ho3+ +Yb3+, Ho3+ = 0.05 and Yb3+ = 0.35, 0.40, 0.45 and 0.50) were successfully synthesized by microwave sol-gel method. Well-crystallized particles formed after heat-treatment at 900 oC for 16 h showed a fine and homogeneous morphology with particle sizes of 3-5 μm. Under excitation at 980 nm, the UC intensities of the doped samples exhibited strong yellow emissions based on the combination of strong emission bands at 520-nm and 630-nm emission bands in the green and red spectral regions, respectively. The optimal Yb3+:Ho3+ ratios were obtained at 9:1 and 10:1, as indicated by the compositiondependent quenching effect of the Ho3+ ions. The pump power dependence of the upconversion emission intensity and the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage chromaticity coordinates of the phosphors were evaluated in detail.

NaLa1-x(MoO4)2:Ho3+/Yb3+ phosphors with the correct doping concentrations of Ho3+ and Yb3+ (x = Ho3++Yb3+, Ho3+ = 0.05 and Yb3+ = 0.35, 0.40, 0.45 and 0.50) were successfully synthesized by the microwave-modified sol-gel method. Well-crystallized particles formed after heat-treatment at 900 oC for 16 h showed a fine and homogeneous morphology with particle sizes of 3-5 μm. The optical properties were examined using photoluminescence emission and Raman spectroscopy. Under excitation at 980 nm, the UC intensities of the doped samples exhibited strong yellow emissions based on the combination of strong emission bands at 545-nm and 655-nm emission bands in green and red spectral regions, respectively. The strong 545-nm emission band in the green region corresponds to the 5S2/5F4→ 5I8 transition in Ho3+ ions, while the strong emission 655-nm band in the red region appears due to the 5F5→ 5I8 transition in Ho3+ ions. Pump power dependence and Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage chromaticity of the upconversion emission intensity were evaluated in detail.

Pb1-xMoO4:Er3+/Yb3+ phosphors with various doping concentrations of Er3+ and Yb3+ (x = Er3++Yb3+, Er3+ = 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and Yb3+ = 0.2, 0.45) are successfully synthesized using a microwave sol-gel method, and the up-conversion photoluminescence properties are investigated. Well-crystallized particles, which are formed after heat treatment at 900 oC for 16 h, exhibit a fine and homogeneous morphology with particle sizes of 2-5 μm. Under excitation at 980 nm, the Pb0.7MoO4: Er0.1Yb0.2 and Pb0.5MoO4:Er0.05Yb0.45 particles exhibit a strong 525 nm emission band, a weak 550 nm emission band in the green region, and a very weak 655 nm emission band in the red region. The Raman spectra of the doped particles indicate the presence of strong peaks at higher and lower frequencies induced by the disordered structures of Pb1-xMoO4 through the incorporation of the Er3+ and Yb3+ ions into the crystal lattice, which results in the unit cell shrinkage accompanying the new phase formation of the MoO4-x group.