Simultaneous phase and shape control of monodisperse NaLuF4:Yb, Er microcrystals and greatly enhanced upconversion luminescence from their superstructures

Simultaneous phase- and shape-controlled NaLuF4 microcrystals co-doped with Yb3+/Er3+ have been synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method by only changing the precursor pH value. The UC emission efficiency of these obtained microparticles showed a strong phase- and shape-dependency. Under irradiation of 980 nm, the luminescence intensity of hexagonal NaLuF4 microcrystals presents an enhancement by at least 5.8 times relative to their cubic counterpart. Specially, an up to 168-fold enhancement of emission intensity from the NaLuF4 superstructures, compared with the microplates with identical hexagonal phase, was observed. Such improvement is likely to be dominated by the laser-cavity mirrors effect from the microcavities on their surface of the NaLuF4 superstructures. These results will permit a promising step to harness the upconversion phosphors in solid state lasers.