Enhanced near infrared luminescence efficiency of ligand-free LaF3:Nd/LaF3 core/shell nanocrystals in solvent dispersion

A variety of ligand-free LaF3:Nd/LaF3 core/shell nanocrystals with high quantum efficiency, great dispersibility and low quench ratio was prepared by a simple solvothermal method. Their phase and morphologies were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The optical properties of the samples prepared under different times were investigated. The core/shell nanocrystals have great dispersibility concentration (312 mg/mL) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/tetrabromoethane solvents. These transparent colloidal solution exhibits enhanced high quantum efficiency (61.2%) at 1057 nm. Therefore, the LaF3:Nd/LaF3 core/shell nanocrystals with excellent near infrared to near infrared (NIR-to-NIR) fluorescence are a promising candidate for luminescence material in liquid media.