Superparamagnetic and upconversion luminescent properties of Fe3O4/NaYF4:Yb, Er hetero-submicro-rods

Abstract Fe 3 O 4 /NaYF 4 submicro-rods were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal process with the presence of EDTA and Fe 3 O 4 NPs. The structure of Fe 3 O 4 /NaYF 4 submicro-rods is pictured as a large number of Fe 3 O 4 NPs firmly attached on the surface of NaYF 4 submicro-rods, generating a hetero structure. It is the first time to synthesize this structured magnetic upconversion luminescent composites via a hydrothermal method. Furthermore, these Fe 3 O 4 /NaYF 4 hetero-submicro-rods with a high saturated magnetization value of 9.4 emu g −1 can emit bright green luminescence under 980 nm laser, which demonstrates these Fe 3 O 4 /NaYF 4 submicro-rods possess better overall bifunctional properties compared with other reported works.