Yb no3 3

The synthesis procedure previously employed for the synthesis of BYF:Yb³⁺,Ho³⁺ was repeated for the preparation of BYF:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺ phosphor [8 (link)]. BYF:Yb³⁺, Tm³⁺ phosphors were synthesized by the co-precipitation method at room temperature. The starting materials utilized were high purity (> 99.99%) chemicals of Ba(NO₃)₂, Y(NO₃)₃.6H₂O, Tm(NO₃)₃, Yb(NO₃)₃, and NH₄F that were procured from Sigma Aldrich. Stoichiometric amounts of the metal nitrates were dissolved in double distilled water and vigorously stirred on a magnetic stirrer. Few drops of 1-octadecene and oleic acid were added to this solution to stabilize the crystals in the solution. The phosphors were precipitated by adding the NH₄F solution together with vigorous stirring. The precipitates were separated from the solution, and then, washed sequentially with water and ethanol. They were then dried in hot air oven for 12 h at 80 ^oC. the dried precipitates were annealed in a reducing Ar/H₂ (5% H₂, 95% Ar gas mixture) atmosphere for 4 h at 650 ^oC to obtain the final yield.