Research Article Open Access

pH Mediated Control Synthesis of Lanthanide-Doped YPO4 Upconversion Nano/Microcrystals

Meiling Tan1, Shuwei Hao1, Xiangbin Meng1, Jing Liu1, Yunfei Shang1, Chunhui Yang2 and Guanying Chen3
  • 1 Harbin Institute of Technology, China
  • 2 Harbin Huigong Technology Co., Ltd., China
  • 3 The State University of New York at Buffalo, United States

Abstract

A pH-mediated rational control over the phase transformation, morphology and size of lanthanide doped YPO4 nano/microcrystals has been accomplished using a hydrothermal route. The morphology of the resulting particles evolves from the spheres, to the nanoflakes and finally to the nanorods when increasing the pH value of the reaction solution from 1 to 9, while the induction of crystal phase transformation from a tetragonal structure to a hexagonal structure takes place at pH = 5. When excited at 980 nm, the hexagonal phase YPO4•0.8H2O: 18%Yb3+, 2%Er3+ nanoflakes prepared at pH = 7 exhibit the strongest UC emission intensity among investigated samples of varying size, phase and morphologies. This work provides a paradigm on the controlled synthesis of lanthanide doped upconverting orthophosphates, which hold great promise for various photonic and biophotonic applications.

American Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Volume 8 No. 3, 2015, 310-317

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajeassp.2015.310.317

Submitted On: 30 March 2015 Published On: 1 June 2015

How to Cite: Tan, M., Hao, S., Meng, X., Liu, J., Shang, Y., Yang, C. & Chen, G. (2015). pH Mediated Control Synthesis of Lanthanide-Doped YPO4 Upconversion Nano/Microcrystals. American Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 8(3), 310-317. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajeassp.2015.310.317

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Keywords

  • Orthophosphate
  • Morphology
  • Upconversion