Synthesis and strong near-infrared fluorescence of LiLa1-xNdx(PO3)(4) nanocrystals with high doping concentrations

A series of LiLa1-xNdx(PO3)(4) (LLNP) nanocrystals are synthesized by a combustion method for the first time. With irregular short-rod shapes and an average size of about 70 nm, the LiLa1-xNdx(PO3)(4) nanocrystals exhibit stronger fluorescence emission of 1.8-6.5 times in the doping concentration range of 1 mol% to 100mol% than Nd3+ (2.5 wt%) doped phosphate glass, and have a long lifetime of 122 mu s for the fully doped nanocrystals. Moreover, the LiLa1-xNdx(PO3)(4) nanocrystals show the lowest lifetime decay rate of 5.09 mu s per mol% and a quenching ratio of 10.81%. Considering the above outstanding performances, LiLa1-xNdx(PO3)(4) nanocrystals may have promising applications in optical amplifiers and lasers