Synthesis of NaCaLa(MoO4)3:Ho3+/Yb3+ Phosphors via Microwave Sol-Gel Route and Their Upconversion Photoluminescence Properties

$NaCaLa_{1-x}(MoO_4)_3:Ho^{3+}/Yb^{3+}$ ternary molybdates with proper doping concentrations of $Ho^{3+}$ and $Yb^{3+}$ (x = $Ho^{3+}+Yb^{3+}$, $Ho^{3+}$ = 0.05 and $Yb^{3+}$ = 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 $900^{\circ}C$ for 16 h showed a fine and homogeneous morphology with particle sizes of $3-5{\mu}m$. 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 $Yb^{3+}:Ho{3+}$ ratios were obtained at 9:1 and 10:1, as indicated by the composition-dependent quenching effect of the $Ho^{3+}$ 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.