Intense NIR emissions at 0.8 μm, 1.47 μm, and 1.53 μm from colloidal LiYbF4:Ln(3+) (Ln = Tm(3+) and Er(3+)) nanocrystals.

We report on the synthesis of diamond shaped Ln(3+)-doped LiYbF4 (Ln = Tm and Er) nanocrystals with flat edges via the thermal decomposition method. Strong near-infrared emissions at 0.8 μm, 1.47 μm and 1.53 μm are observed from colloidal dispersions of Tm(3+)-doped and Er(3+)-doped LiYbF4 nanocrystals, respectively, under 0.98 μm diode laser excitation. The NIR emission intensities for Tm(3+)-doped and Er(3+)-doped LiYbF4 nanocrystals are comparable with those of the sodium counterpart NaYbF4, suggesting that LiYbF4 is also an excellent host matrix for lanthanide ions to obtain strong NIR emissions in colloidal solutions of LiYbF4 (Tm(3+) or Er(3+)) nanocrystals.