Enhanced upconversion of NaYF₄:Er³⁺/Yb³⁺ phosphors prepared via the rapid microwave-assisted hydrothermal route at low temperature: phase and morphology control.

Monophasic NaYF4:Er(3+)/Yb(3+) crystals were synthesized via the microwave-assisted hydrothermal route at 180°C. Microwave heating during the hydrothermal process substantially reduces the duration of reaction for the formation of cubic-NaYF4:Er(3+)/Yb(3+) nanocrystals from 6 h to 30 min. As the duration of the reaction increases, cubic-NaYF4:Er(3+)/Yb(3+) nanocrystals are transformed to uniform hexagonal-NaYF4:Er(3+)/Yb(3+) microprisms because of the enhanced reaction kinetics. Bright upconverted emission from the NaYF4:Er(3+)/Yb(3+) crystal, obtained by the efficient two-photon excitation, is related to crystal structure and morphology. The hexagonal microprisms exhibit better upconversion and are employed in security applications.