Ultraviolet upconversion spectra of sonochemically synthesized doped NaYF4 crystals

A facile sonochemical method was developed for the production of alpha- and beta-forms of Yb3+(20%)/Tm3+(2%) or Er3+(2%) doubly doped NaYF4 crystals. The reactions took place in aqueous solutions at low temperatures and employed oxide or salt precursors. Micrometer sized beta-NaYF4 and nanometer sized alpha-NaYF4 were obtained with upconversion property. The required activation energy for the solid-solid phase transition was overcome with the energy provided by cavitations. Upconversion emission properties of the Yb3+(20%), Er3+(2%) or Tm3+(2%) doubly doped, alpha- and beta-NaYF4 were investigated. The alpha-form with emission in the ultraviolet region had higher efficiency contradicting the literature. Several new peaks in the spectra, most likely due to crystal defects, were temporarily assigned. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.