Modifying the size and shape of monodisperse bifunctional alkaline-earth fluoride nanocrystals through lanthanide doping.

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.