Abstract
In this paper, Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped hexagonal NaYF4 have been successfully synthesized by solvothermal, thermal decomposition, hydrothermal and molten salt method, respectively. The crystal structures, particle morphologies, sizes and corresponding upconversion luminescent properties of β-NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nano/microcrystals are systemically studied. It is interesting to observed that the temperature-dependent UC luminescent properties of β-NaYF4:20 %Yb3+, 2 %Er3+ samples are strongly related to their synthesis methods. Comparison of the upconversion luminescence and thermal sensitivity between the β-NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ samples reveals that β-NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ sub-microplates synthesized by thermal decomposition method have much stronger green emission intensity, better luminescent thermal stability and higher temperature sensitivity. This findings are relevant to the application of β-NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ in optical temperature sensors and to the further understanding of the UC luminescent mechanism.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
E. Downing, L. Hesselink, J. Ralston, R. Macfarlane, A three-color, solid-state, three-dimensional display. Science 273, 1185 (1996)
R. Deng, F. Qin, R. Chen, W. Huang, M. Hong, X. Liu, Temporal full-colour tuning through non-steady-state upconversion. Nat. Nanotechnol. 10, 237–242 (2015)
F. Huang, Y. Gao, J. Zhou, J. Xu, Y. Wang, Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped CaMoO4: a promising green upconversion phosphor for optical temperature sensing. J. Alloys Compd. 639, 325–329 (2015)
M. You, J. Zhong, Y. Hong, Z. Duan, M. Lin, F. Xu, Inkjet printing of upconversion nanoparticles for anti-counterfeit applications. Nanoscale 7, 4423–4431 (2015)
M. Ding, D. Chen, Z. Wan, Y. Zhou, J. Zhong, J. Xi, Z. Ji, Achieving efficient Tb3+ dual-mode luminescence via Gd-sublattice-mediated energy migration in a NaGdF4 core-shell nanoarchitecture. J. Mater. Chem. C 3, 5372–5376 (2015)
Y. Liu, Y. Xia, Y. Jiang, M. Zhang, W. Sun, X.-Z. Zhao, Coupling effects of Au-decorated core-shell β-NaYF4:Er/Yb@SiO2 microprisms in dye-sensitized solar cells: plasmon resonance versus upconversion. Electrochim. Acta 180, 394–400 (2015)
B. Qu, Y. Jiao, S. He, Y. Zhu, P. Liu, J. Sun, J. Lu, X. Zhang, Improved performance of a-Si: H solar cell by using up-conversion phosphors. J. Alloys Compd. 658, 848–853 (2016)
W. Qin, D. Zhang, D. Zhao, L. Wang, K. Zheng, Near-infrared photocatalysis based on YF3: Yb3+, Tm3+/TiO2 core/shell nanoparticles. Chem. Commun. 46, 2304–2306 (2010)
Z. Zhang, W. Wang, W. Yin, M. Shang, L. Wang, S. Sun, Inducing photocatalysis by visible light beyond the absorption edge: effect of upconversion agent on the photocatalytic activity of Bi2WO6. Appl. Catal. B Environ. 101, 68–73 (2010)
S. Gai, P. Yang, C. Li, W. Wang, Y. Dai, N. Niu, J. Lin, Synthesis of magnetic, up-conversion luminescent, and mesoporous core–shell-structured nanocomposites as drug carriers. Adv. Funct. Mater. 20, 1166–1172 (2010)
X. Huang, J. Lin, Active-core/active-shell nanostructured design: an effective strategy to enhance Nd3+/Yb3+ cascade sensitized upconversion luminescence in lanthanide-doped nanoparticles. J. Mater. Chem. C 3, 7652–7657 (2015)
X. Zou, Y. Liu, X. Zhu, M. Chen, L. Yao, W. Feng, F. Li, An Nd3+-sensitized upconversion nanophosphor modified with a cyanine dye for the ratiometric upconversion luminescence bioimaging of hypochlorite. Nanoscale 7, 4105–4113 (2015)
D. Chen, P. Huang, Y. Yu, F. Huang, A. Yang, Y. Wang, Dopant-induced phase transition: a new strategy of synthesizing hexagonal upconversion NaYF4 at low temperature. Chem. Commun. 47, 5801–5803 (2011)
S.H. Lee, J.I. Choi, Y.J. Kim, J.K. Han, J. Ha, E. Novitskaya, J.B. Talbot, J. McKittrick, Comparison of luminescent properties of Y2O3:Eu3+ and LaPO4:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphors prepared by various synthetic methods. Mater. Charact. 103, 162–169 (2015)
J. Cao, X. Li, Z. Wang, Y. Wei, L. Chen, H. Guo, Optical thermometry based on up-conversion luminescence behavior of self-crystallized K3YF6:Er3+ glass ceramics. Sens. Actuators B Chem. 224, 507–513 (2016)
C. Li, Z. Quan, J. Yang, P. Yang, J. Lin, Highly uniform and monodisperse β-NaYF4:Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Tb, Yb/Er, and Yb/Tm) hexagonal microprism crystals: hydrothermal synthesis and luminescent properties. Inorg. Chem. 46, 6329–6337 (2007)
M. Ding, S. Yin, Y. Ni, C. Lu, D. Chen, J. Zhong, Z. Ji, Z. Xu, Controlled synthesis of β-NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ microstructures with morphology- and size-dependent upconversion luminescence. Ceram. Int. 41, 7411–7420 (2015)
M. Ding, S. Yin, D. Chen, J. Zhong, Y. Ni, C. Lu, Z. Xu, Z. Ji, Hexagonal NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nano/micro-structures: controlled hydrothermal synthesis and morphology-dependent upconversion luminescence. Appl. Surf. Sci. 333, 23–33 (2015)
F. Wang, X. Liu, Recent advances in the chemistry of lanthanide-doped upconversion nanocrystals. Chem. Soc. Rev. 38, 976–989 (2009)
S.F. León-Luis, U.R. Rodríguez-Mendoza, E. Lalla, V. Lavín, Temperature sensor based on the Er3 + green upconverted emission in a fluorotellurite glass. Sens. Actuators B Chem. 158, 208–213 (2011)
S.K. Singh, K. Kumar, S.B. Rai, Er3+/Yb3+ codoped Gd2O3 nano-phosphor for optical thermometry. Sens. Actuators A Phys. 149, 16–20 (2009)
K. Wu, J. Cui, X. Kong, Y. Wang, Temperature dependent upconversion luminescence of Yb/Er codoped NaYF4 nanocrystals. J. Appl. Phys. 110, 053510 (2011)
A.M. Pires, O.A. Serra, S. Heer, H.U. Güdel, Low-temperature upconversion spectroscopy of nanosized Y2O3:Er, Yb phosphor. J. Appl. Phys. 98, 063529 (2005)
D. Li, Q. Shao, Y. Dong, J. Jiang, Anomalous temperature-dependent upconversion luminescence of small-sized NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+ nanoparticles. J. Phys. Chem. C 118, 22807–22813 (2014)
J. Shan, M. Uddi, N. Yao, Y. Ju, Anomalous Raman scattering of colloidal Yb3+, Er3+ codoped NaYF4 nanophosphors and dynamic probing of the upconversion luminescence. Adv. Funct. Mater. 20, 3530–3537 (2010)
B. Dong, R.N. Hua, B.S. Cao, Z.P. Li, Y.Y. He, Z.Y. Zhang, O.S. Wolfbeis, Size dependence of the upconverted luminescence of NaYF4:Er, Yb microspheres for use in ratiometric thermometry. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 16, 20009–20012 (2014)
W. Huang, M. Ding, H. Huang, C. Jiang, Y. Song, Y. Ni, C. Lu, Z. Xu, Uniform NaYF4:Yb, Tm hexagonal submicroplates: controlled synthesis and enhanced UV and blue upconversion luminescence. Mater. Res. Bull. 48, 300–304 (2013)
L. Wang, Y. Li, Controlled synthesis and luminescence of lanthanide doped NaYF4 nanocrystals. Chem. Mater. 19, 727–734 (2007)
L. Tong, X. Li, R. Hua, X. Li, H. Zheng, J. Sun, J. Zhang, L. Cheng, B. Chen, Comparative study on upconversion luminescence and temperature sensing of α- and β-NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nano-/micro-crystals derived from a microwave-assisted hydrothermal route. J. Lumin. 167, 386–390 (2015)
F. Auzel, Upconversion and anti-stokes processes with f and d ions in solids. Chem. Rev. 104, 139–174 (2004)
Y. Wei, H. Yang, X. Li, L. Wang, H. Guo, Elaboration, structure, and intense upconversion in transparent KYb2F7:Ho3+ glass-ceramics. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 97, 2012–2015 (2014)
J.F. Suyver, J. Grimm, K.W. Krämer, H.U. Güdel, Highly efficient near-infrared to visible up-conversion process in NaYF4: Er3+, Yb3+. J. Lumin. 114, 53–59 (2005)
W. Yu, W. Xu, H. Song, S. Zhang, Temperature-dependent upconversion luminescence and dynamics of NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanocrystals: influence of particle size and crystalline phase. Dalton Trans. 43, 6139–6147 (2014)
S.F. León-Luis, U.R. Rodríguez-Mendoza, P. Haro-González, I.R. Martín, V. Lavín, Role of the host matrix on the thermal sensitivity of Er3+ luminescence in optical temperature sensors. Sens. Actuators B Chem. 174, 176–186 (2012)
M.A.R.C. Alencar, G.S. Maciel, C.B. de Araújo, A. Patra, Er3+-doped BaTiO3 nanocrystals for thermometry: influence of nanoenvironment on the sensitivity of a fluorescence based temperature sensor. Appl. Phys. Lett. 84, 4753–4755 (2004)
D. Li, Q. Shao, Y. Dong, J. Jiang, Thermal sensitivity and stability of NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+ upconversion nanowires, nanorods and nanoplates. Mater. Lett. 110, 233–236 (2013)
X. Wang, X. Kong, Y. Yu, Y. Sun, H. Zhang, Effect of annealing on upconversion luminescence of ZnO:Er3+ nanocrystals and high thermal sensitivity. J. Phys. Chem. C 111, 15119–15124 (2007)
Acknowledgments
This project has been financially supported by Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (LQ15E020004), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (61372025), the college students’ activities of science and technology innovation in Zhejiang Province (2015R407033) and the Science and Technology Project of Zhejiang Province (2015C37037).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xi, J., Ding, M., Dai, J. et al. Comparison of upconversion luminescent properties and temperature sensing behaviors of β-NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nano/microcrystals prepared by various synthetic methods. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 27, 8254–8270 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-4832-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-4832-7