Ultraviolet to near-infrared conversion in Nd³⁺ doped strontium cerate nanophosphors

Highlights: • Novel luminescent nanomaterial, Sr₂CeO₄:Nd³⁺ is prepared with Pechini method. • Sr₂CeO₄:Nd³⁺ exhibits strong NIR emission for the first time under UV excitation. • The peculiar optical properties potential apply in NIR light amplifier. - Abstract: Novel NIR luminescent nanomaterial, Sr₂CeO₄:Nd³⁺ was successfully prepared with Pechini method. The Sr₂CeO₄:Nd³⁺ nanophosphors had an orthorhombic crystal structure, and showed plate-like morphology with length of about 260 nm and width of about 130 nm. Upon UV light excitation, the Sr₂CeO₄:Nd³⁺ nanophosphors exhibited strong NIR emission for the first time. The possible mechanisms of energy transfer for Nd³⁺ doped Sr₂CeO₄ were briefly analyzed. The Sr₂CeO₄:Nd³⁺ nanophosphors may be poised to be exploited in near-infrared light amplified applications or used as a high efficiency laser material based on their peculiar optical properties