Highly efficient up-conversion and bright white light in RE co-doped KYF4 nanocrystals in sol-gel silica matrix

► Successful synthesis of Ln3+-doped KYF4-based sol-gel derived nano-glass-ceramics. ► High efficient UV-VIS up-conversion emissions under infrared excitation. ► White light generation by simultaneous emission in Yb3+-Er3+-Tm3+ co-doped sample.