Solvothermal synthesis and upconversion properties of YF3:Ln (Ln = Yb/Er,Yb/Tm,Yb/Ho) nanoparticles

YF3 nanoparticles with different morphology, dimension, and dispersity have been synthesized through a simple solvothermal method by using n-octanol and n-octylamine as a mixed solvent and lanthanide acetylacetonate as the RE3+ source. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS) and up-conversion (UC) photoluminescence spectra were used to characterize the samples. The results reveal that the morphology and dimension of the as-prepared nanoparticles can be regulated by adjusting n-octanol/ n-octylamine volume ratio in the initial system. Besides, by doping with different rare-earth elements (Yb/Er, Yb/Tm, Yb/Ho), the as-prepared YF3 samples can emit characteristic green, blue, and yellow light under 980 nm laser excitation. Additionally, when being co-doped with the activator ion-pairs Tm/Er and Tm/Ho, the color of the emission light can be further modified by adjusting the Yb3+ ion content.