Highly efficient Yb3+/Tm3+ co-doped NaYF4 nanotubes: Synthesis and intense ultraviolet to infrared up-conversion luminescence

Nanocrystals of up-conversion (UC) phosphor Yb3+/Tm3+ co-doped NaYF4 are prepared by a facile hydrothermal method using oleic acid as a stabilizing agent. The as-prepared nanocrystals are of hexagonal phase, and have tube-like morphology and strong ultraviolet (UV) and blue UC fluorescence intensity, which have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and luminescence spectroscopy. The effect of Yb3+ concentration on the UC emission properties is also analyzed. Our results reveal that the intensity of emission peaks can be controlled by varying the Yb3+ concentration and these NaYF4 nanotubes are highly efficient host material. The as-prepared NaYF4 nanotubes show potential applications in UV compact solid state lasers and multi-channel fluorescent label.