Abstract
LaF3:5%Yb3+,0.5%Er3+ upconverting nanoparticles were synthesized with co-precipitation method and heat treated at temperatures 300–600 °C. The morphology of the particles was characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectrometry and dynamic light scattering. Crystal structure was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermal behaviour was investigated by simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA). Upconversion behaviour was studied in detail by fluorescence spectroscopy, with 980 nm excitation. Particle sizes increased with increasing heat treatment temperature, and samples showed significant aggregation above 500 °C. Hexagonal LaF3 crystal structure was identified for all samples, with increased crystallinity after heat treatment at 400 °C, which was corroborated with TG/DTA results. XRD and energy-dispersive spectrometry results revealed that at higher temperatures new crystal phases formed, as some Yb3+ and Er3+ dopant ions segregated into new nanocrystals, made of, for example, YbOF and YbOOH, which caused a significant decrease in the upconversion emission of the samples. The highest upconversion emission was achieved after heat treatment at 400 °C.
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