To obtain an adequate luminescent emission, a significant effort must be made to find a suitable host material. An interesting and highly efficient method is a combinatorial approach, which allows high velocity screening of a wider range of properties. In the present work, a compositional gradient-based, thin-film library of -AlOxNy:Yb3+ has been prepared by radio frequency co-sputtering from two targets. The ytterbium concentration range spreads from 0.9 to 4.2 at. % and the oxygen to nitrogen ratio from 0.6 to 3.6. Using different annealing temperatures, the activation energy of the rare earth ions and activation mechanisms can be evaluated. Finally, optimal elemental compositions in the investigated range are proposed.

This work was supported by the Peruvian science foundation CIENCIACTIVA of CONCYTEC and DAAD-CONCYTEC project (2017–2019). The Research Management Office (DGI) of the the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) project 492-2017. The research activity was performed in the framework of the doctoral scholarship of L. F. Flores under the contract number 236-2015-FONDECYT. The authors are also thankful to the Center of Materials Characterization (CAM) and the Institute of Corrosion and Protection (ICP) of the PUCP for the EDX, PL and FTIR measurements.