Facile synthesis of well-dispersed SrF2:Yb3+/Er3+ upconversion nanocrystals in oleate complex systems

Well oil-dispersible SrF2:Yb3+/Er3+ upconversion (UC) nanocrystals (NCs) were easily synthesized in the water–ethanol–oleic acid–sodium oleate complex systems. The as-prepared NCs all show size-uniformity, and their sizes, morphologies can be controlled by varying the solvent and reaction time, and rectangular SrF2:Yb3+/Er3+ nanosheets with the sizes of 5–25 nm can be obtained. The possible mechanism on the nucleation and growth of nanocrystals occurred at the oleic acid/sodium oleate interface was also discussed. The size and morphology dependent UC luminescence behaviors have been observed in SrF2:Yb3+/Er3+ NCs, and their UC luminescence transitions were proposed. The as-prepared UC nanocrystals are expected to fulfill the demand for biological applications.