Preparation and up-conversion luminescence of 8 nm rare-earth doped fluoride nanoparticles

Free-standing, 8 nm diameter, rare-earth doped nanoparticles Re(10)Pb(25)F(65) have been prepared, where Re stands for either single rare-earth ion, such as Er(3+), Yb(3+), Eu(3+), Dy(3+), Ho(3+), Tm(3+) or combinations of those ions. The nanoparticles have been extracted by chemical etching from the oxyfluoride nano-glass-ceramics template and analyzed by transmission electron microscope with energy dispersion spectroscopy. The nanoparticles show durable up-conversion photoluminescence, which is neither concentration nor impurity quenched after 6 months ageing in ambient atmosphere. High doping levels in these nanoparticles ensure high, up to 15%, quantum yield of up-conversion luminescence.