“…4 presents the FTIR spectra of the Y 2 O 3 : Yb 3+ (8 mol%)/Ho 3+ (1 mol%) UCNPs with different 2-EHA/ RE 3+ molar ratios (x/1, x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3), which were normalized according to the Y-O vibration absorption peak at ∼560 cm −1 . [24][25][26][27][28] Intense bands around ∼3420 cm −1 have been observed and are assigned to the stretching vibrational frequency of O-H. [24][25][26][27][28] The characteristic peak at ∼1385 cm −1 is due to the vibration absorption of NO 3 − . [24][25][26][27][28] When the 2-EHA/RE 3+ ratio is 0/1, the peak of NO 3 − is sharp and intense, indicating the presence of more NO 3 − groups on the surface of particles, and further manifesting the bad evaporation of nitrate in the precursor, which supports the previous explanation of particle growth routes.…”