Tuning lanthanide ion-doped upconversion nanocrystals with different shapes via a one-pot cationic surfactant-assisted hydrothermal strategy

Herein we report a novel cationic surfactant-assisted hydrothermal method to synthesize highly dispersed LuF3 upconversion nanoparticles (80–100 nm) and Na1.5Y2.5F9 flower-like assemblies (450–550 nm). Controlling the initial shape of the building blocks, growth oriented by the cationic surfactant and Ostwald ripening are deemed as the possible formation processes in the hydrothermal system.