Microwave-assisted synthesis of up-converting Yb³⁺/Eu³⁺ co-doped yttrium oxyfluoride micro/nano particles for white light emission

Lanthanide ion-doped up-conversion yttrium oxyfluoride (YOF) materials have wide applications in lighting displays, biological imaging, anticounterfeiting, and more. Traditional wet chemical methods used to prepare YOF are time-consuming and have low reproducibility. Controllable and rapid synthesis of YOF micro- or nanoparticles remains a challenge for advancing their applications. In this work, Eu³⁺ and Yb³⁺ co-doped YOF nanoparticles were synthesized using a microwave-assisted method. The particles exhibited excellent up-conversion photoluminescence properties when excited with a 980 nm laser. The calcination temperature and doping concentration of rare earth elements significantly affect the emission color and intensity, and white color emission can be achieved using a single emitter by tuning the doped ion concentration.