In this communication, a simple route for modifying the uneven size and shape of alkaline-earth fluoride nanophases to monodisperse ultrasmall nanospheres through lanthanide doping is offered. These nanospheres are found to exhibit bifunctionality, i.e., tunable upconversion emissions as well as proper paramagnetism, making them potentially applicable in the biological field. The synthesis strategy, which involves doping of an impurity with a different valence than the cation in the nanophase, might be useful for controlling the solution growth of some technologically important nanomaterials.

Monodisperse Er(3+):NaGdF(4)@Ho(3+):NaGdF(4)@NaGdF(4) active-core/active-shell/inert-shell nanocrystals, which can extend the near-infrared wavelength excitable range for upconversion (UC) emissions, were successfully fabricated for the first time. Importantly, doping of Er(3+) and Ho(3+) into the core and shell respectively suppresses adverse energy transfers between them, resulting in intense UC emissions for both Er(3+) and Ho(3+) dopants.

A new strategy of synthesizing hexagonal upconversion NaYF(4) at low temperature (down to 130 °C) based on Ti(4+) doping-induced cubic-to-hexagonal phase transition in a liquid-solid-solution reaction system is offered.