TY - JOUR
T1 - Yb3+-Mediated Luminescence Enhancement in Er3+-Doped 3D-Printed ZrO2 Microarchitectures
AU - Rosero-Arias, Cristian
AU - Vásquez, Geraldo Cristian
AU - Herrera-Zaldívar, Manuel
AU - Córdova-Castro, R. Margoth
AU - Leon, Israel De
AU - Ruiz-Zepeda, Francisco
AU - Gardeniers, Han
AU - Maestre, David
AU - Aguirre-Soto, Alan
AU - Susarrey-Arce, Arturo
PY - 2025/6
Y1 - 2025/6
N2 - Lanthanide-doped ZrO
2 ceramics are promising materials for optics due to their high refractive index and tunable luminescent properties. In this study, we investigated the impact of Yb
3+ and Er
3+ dopant concentrations on the emission behavior of lanthanide-doped 3D ZrO
2 microarchitectures fabricated using two-photon lithography. Thermal treatments have been carried out at 600°C and 750°C to promote the stabilization of the ZrO
2 tetragonal phase (t-ZrO
2) and at 1000°C to induce phase transition in ZrO
2 to the monoclinic (m-ZrO
2) phase in the 3D microarchitectures. Scanning transmission electron microscopy confirmed the crystallinity changes across the thermal treatments. Photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) measurements confirm emission bands of Yb
3+ and Er
3+ single dopants and Yb
3+:Er
3+ co-dopants. Variations in Yb
3+ content reveal that the PL emission of Er
3+ increases (e.g.,
4S
3/2 →
4I
15/2), which is attributed to the interplay between the dopant concentrations, defect structures and the ZrO
2 host. The results highlight the importance of ZrO
2 microarchitectures' crystallinity and co-doping relationship, which enable the promotion of Er
3+ emissions. We expect our research will find applications in 3D optical systems.
AB - Lanthanide-doped ZrO
2 ceramics are promising materials for optics due to their high refractive index and tunable luminescent properties. In this study, we investigated the impact of Yb
3+ and Er
3+ dopant concentrations on the emission behavior of lanthanide-doped 3D ZrO
2 microarchitectures fabricated using two-photon lithography. Thermal treatments have been carried out at 600°C and 750°C to promote the stabilization of the ZrO
2 tetragonal phase (t-ZrO
2) and at 1000°C to induce phase transition in ZrO
2 to the monoclinic (m-ZrO
2) phase in the 3D microarchitectures. Scanning transmission electron microscopy confirmed the crystallinity changes across the thermal treatments. Photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) measurements confirm emission bands of Yb
3+ and Er
3+ single dopants and Yb
3+:Er
3+ co-dopants. Variations in Yb
3+ content reveal that the PL emission of Er
3+ increases (e.g.,
4S
3/2 →
4I
15/2), which is attributed to the interplay between the dopant concentrations, defect structures and the ZrO
2 host. The results highlight the importance of ZrO
2 microarchitectures' crystallinity and co-doping relationship, which enable the promotion of Er
3+ emissions. We expect our research will find applications in 3D optical systems.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105002328600&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apmt.2025.102714
DO - 10.1016/j.apmt.2025.102714
M3 - Article
SN - 2352-9407
VL - 44
JO - Applied Materials Today
JF - Applied Materials Today
M1 - 102714
ER -
