Synthesis and near-infrared fluorescence of K5NdLi2F10 nanocrystals and their dispersion with high doping concentration and long lifetime

Abstract

K₅NdLi₂F₁₀ nanocrystals were synthesized by a novel synthetic route in the liquid phase, which could improve the morphology and reduce the size effectively, for the first time. The luminescence intensities of the K₅NdLi₂F₁₀ nanocrystals and their dispersion in polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG-400) approximate to that of neodymium doped phosphate glass (3 mol%), while the lifetimes of the nanocrystals alone and when dispersed with Nd³⁺ ions (1 × 10²⁰ cm⁻³) are 303.4 μs and 174.6 μs respectively. Based on the Judd–Ofelt analysis, the emission quantum yield of the dispersion reaches 39.57%. In all, the K₅NdLi₂F₁₀ nanocrystals and their dispersion have promising applications as liquid laser materials and biological fluorescent markers.