Synthesis and Luminescence Properties of Lanthanide (III)-Doped YF3 Nanoparticles

Abstract

Synthesis process and luminescence properties of trivalent lanthanide ions (Ln3+) doped YF3 nanoparticles have been investigated. To synthesis Ln3+-doped YF3 nanoparticles, the mixture of (YCl3·nH2O + LnCl3·nH2O), and NH4F was hydrothermal treated at 180 °C in a Teflon-liner auto-clave or heated at higher temperatures (400 °C ∼ 600 °C) in a stove. The XRD patterns showed that the Ln3+-doped orthorhombic YF3 nanoparticles with no second phase have been prepared. The solid solution Y1−xEuxF3 (x = 0 ∼ 0.4) nanoparticles have been synthesized. The luminescence concentration quenching resulted from resonance energy transfer between neighboring Eu3+ ions occurred at higher Eu3+ concentrations (30 mol%). The upconversion luminescence of Er3+−Yb3+ codoped YF3 nanoparticles under 980 nm excitation has also been observed. With increase of heated temperature, the size of the Er3+−Yb3+ codoped YF3 nanoparticles increased gradually, and upconversion luminescence intensity increased significantly.