Synthesis of LiYF4:Yb, Er upconversion nanoparticles and its fluorescence properties.

LiYbF4:Yb, Er nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by thermal decomposition of multiple trifluoroacetic acid salts. The SEM and TEM results show the size of the LiYF4:Yb, Er nanoparticles is about 100 nm in diagonal line, and the morphology of the LiYF4:Yb, Er nanoparticles is highly uniform with octahedral structure. Under the excitation of 980 nm, the LiYF4:Yb, Er nanoparticles have higher upconversion luminescence efficiency compared with that of NaYF4:Yb, Er. The results indicate that the as-prepared LiYbF4:Yb, Er nanoparticles may have potential applications in bio-probes and displays.