Microwave Sol-Gel Preparation of NaLa(MoO4)2:Eu3+/Yb3+ Particles and Their Upconversion Photoluminescence Properties

$NaLa_{1-x}(MoO_4)_2:Eu^{3+}/Yb^3$ phosphors with doping concentrations of $Eu^{3+}$ and $Yb^{3+}$ ($x= Eu^{3+}+Yb^{3+}$, $Eu^{3+}=0.05$, 0.1, 0.2 and $Yb^{3+}= 0.2$, 0.45) were successfully synthesized by the microwave-modified sol-gel method, and the upconversion and spectroscopic properties were investigated. Well-crystallized particles showed a fine and homogeneous morphology with particle sizes of $2-5{\mu}m$. Under excitation at 980 nm, $NaLa_{0.5}(MoO_4)_2:Eu_{0.05}Yb_{0.45}$ particles exhibited a strong 525-nm emission band and a weak 550-nm emission band in the green region, and a very weak 665-nm emission band in the red region. The strong 525-nm emission in the green region corresponds to the $^7F_1{\rightarrow}^5D_1$ transition and the weak 550-nm emission in the green region corresponds to the $^7F_0{\rightarrow}^5D_2$ transition, while the very weak emission 665-nm band in the red region corresponds to the $^5D_0{\rightarrow}^7F_3$ transition. The Raman spectra of the doped particles indicated the domination of strong peaks at higher frequencies of 762, 890, 1358 and $1430cm^{-1}$ and weak peaks at lower frequencies of 323, 388 and $450cm^{-1}$ induced by the disorder of the $[MoO4]^{2-}$ groups with the incorporation of the $Eu^{3+}$ and $Yb^{3+}$ elements into the crystal lattice or by a new phase formation.