title: Controlled synthesis and upconverted avalanche luminescence of cerium(III) and neodymium(III) orthovanadate nanocrystals with high uniformity of size and shape.
abstract: We report on controlled synthesis of uniform LnVO4 (Ln = Ce and Nd) nanocrystals (NCs) with square-plate and H-shaped morphologies in nanosized reverse microemulsion reactors, via a facile solvo/hydrothermal strategy. The NCs were thoroughly characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), infrared absorption spectroscopy, and photoluminescence. Possible mechanisms of the rare-earth orthovanadate NC growth and size and shape evolution are proposed. A unique upconverted avalanche luminescence property pertaining to the NCs has been discovered, systematically studied, and mechanistically discussed. Our work combines synthetic and optical studies of the NCs and lays a foundation for reinventing their applications in optoelectronics among others.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Shihe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Si
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Hong-Mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Qu-Quan
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Wang