Barium rare earth fluoride nanocrystals: high temperature solution synthesis, characterization and luminescence

A high temperature solution system with BaCO 3 /RECl 3 ·xH 2 O in oleic acid/1-octadecene has been developed to prepare barium rare earth fluoride nanocrystals: tetragonal phase of BaREF 5 (RE = Pr, Nd, Eu, Tb, Dy, Tm, Lu, Y), pure cubic phase Ba 2 REF 7 (RE = La, Sm, Ho, Er, Yb), and BaREF 5 (RE = Ce, Gd) colloidal nanocrystals. In addition, it is proved that the functionalization of these nanocrystals by means of doping with Eu, Tb, and Yb, Er/Tm ion pair can obtain red, green, and visible-to-the-naked-eye green/blue upconversion emissions.