The synthesis of monodisperse trioctylphosphine oxide-capped EuF3 nanoparticles

Abstract Europium fluoride based systems are promising luminescent materials due to the possibility of realizing photon splitting effect, allowing emission of two photons in visible part of spectra after the excitation of one photon in vacuum ultraviolet. The EuF3 nanoparticles are of special interest due to an opportunity of sensitizing fluoride particles with an light absorbing shell. In the present work the synthesis of monodisperse trioctylphosphine oxide-capped europium fluoride nanostructures is described. The diameter of obtained particles can be controlled in the range of 3–10 nm. The formation of fluoride nanoparticles was confirmed by TEM, electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction and luminescence spectroscopy.