Effects of different polymers and solvents on crystallization of the $$\hbox {NaYF}_{4}$$:Yb/Er phase

Abstract

Up-converting $$\hbox {NaYF}_{4}$$ :Yb,Er nanoparticles were obtained by polymer-assisted solvothermal synthesis using a common solution of hydrated RE nitrates in ethanol or ethylene glycol. It was shown that polymer choice (polyacrylic acid—PAA, polyvinylpyrrolidone—PVP and chitosan—CS) controls the size and shape of $$\hbox {NaYF}_{4}$$ :Yb,Er nanoparticles, while the solvent type and pH value affect their crystallinity. Consequently, the spherical nanoparticles of a cubic ( $$\upalpha $$ ) phase, the average size of which ranged from 60 to 140 nm, were obtained either when PVP/ethanol or PVP/ethylene glycol were used solely during synthesis, whereas NaOH addition induced hexagonal ( $$\upbeta $$ ) phase nucleation. The formation of the hierarchically organized spherical aggregates and nanofoils was observed when CS and PAA were used during synthesis, respectively. The average crystallite size, microstrain, doping level, lattice parameters, as well as, the presence of the certain ligands on the particle surface were determined and correlated with the intensity of visible-light emission observed under 980 nm laser-diode excitation.