Synthesis of Spherical Down- and Up-Conversion NaYF4-Based Nanophosphors with Tunable Size in Ethylene Glycol without Surfactants or Capping Additives

A very simple route for the synthesis of spherical down-conversion (DC) and up-conversion (UC) NaYF4-based nanophosphors is described which consists of a precipitation reaction at rather low temperature (max. 120 degrees C) from solutions containing sodium fluoride and appropriate Ln precursors in a common solvent (ethylene glycol/water mixtures), without the use of any other additive…