Rare earth fluoride nano-/microcrystals: synthesis, surface modification and application

This feature article highlights the recent advances on the chemical synthesis, surface modification and applications of rare earth fluoride nano-/microcrysals. In the past decade, great progress in the size and shape control of rare earth fluoride nano-/microcrystals has been made by developing solution phase-based methods such as thermal decomposition, hydro(solvo)thermal reaction, hydrothermal in situ conversion route, and ionic liquids-based synthesis. The main challenge of fluoride nanocrystals for biological applications is that it is hard to obtain ideal nanocrystals with smaller size (sub-50 nm), higher luminescence yield, better dispersity and stability in aqueous solvents, and superior…