Table 1.

Comparison of the optical performances of various rare-earth based nanocrystals for SWIR emission (within each sub-category, results are ordered chronologically)

Core domaina	Shell domaina	Overall size b (nm)	Excitation (nm)	Emission (nm)	PLQYc (%)	Power density (mW/cm2)	Reference
Unprotected (i.e. no shell) core structures
β-NaCeF4:Yb:Er	NA	200	980	1525	32	100000	46
β-NaCeF4:Yb:Er	NA	6 25	980 980	1525 1525	6 18
β-NaNdF4:Mn	NA	5	785	1050	10d	N/S	47
CaF2:Nd	NA	10-15	808	1020-1100	9e	483	48
α-CaS:Ce:Er	NA	25	450	1540	9	N/S	49
α-CaS:Ce:Nd	NA	25	450	1070	7
β-NaLuF4:Gd:Yb:Er:Ce	NA	100 × 20	980	1450-1650	26 4	N/S	50
Expected core-shell structures with homogeneous core and shell domains
β-NaYF4:Yb:Er	β-NaLuF4	29	980	1450-1650	18	1700	51
β-NaYF4:Yb:Er	β-NaGdF4 (inner) β-NaGdF4 (outer)	52	800	1000 (main) 1550 (minor)	(13)	200	52
β-NaYbF4:Er:Ce	β-NaYF4	18	980	1300 − 1900	(23) (3)	150	9
β-NaErF4	β-NaLuF4	40	808	1525	11	N/S	53
α-NaYbF4:Er:Ce:Zn	α-NaYF4	14	970	1525	5	100	11
NaErF4	NaYbF4 (inner) NaYF4 (outer)	30	980	1525	19	N/S	54
β-NaYF4:Nd	β-NaYF4	66	808	1064 1345	(8) (5)	N/S	55
β-NaErF4	β-NaYF4	13	808	1525	10	660	56
β-NaErF4	β-NaLuF4	30 × 25	800	1550	14	880	57
LiYbF4:Er:Ce	LiYF4:	17	980	1450-1650	36	12500	58
α-NaYF4:Yb:Er:Ce	α-NaYF4	45	980	1450-1650	24	60	This work
α-NaYF4:Yb:Er	α-NaYF4	22	980	1450-1650	7
Expected core-shell structures with heterogeneous core and shell domains
α-NaYF4:Yb:Nd	CaF2	10	800	950-1100	11	1000	36
α-NaYbF4:Er:Ce:Zn	CaF2	19	980	1450-1650	22	20000	38
		28			29
		53			40
		81			49
α-NaYF4:Yb:Er:Ce	CaF2	15	980	1450-1650	50	60	This work
α-NaYF4:Yb:Er	CaF2	15	980	1450-1650	30

^aCubic (α) and hexagonal (β) phases when the information is available in the corresponding original article.

^bOne or two values for isotropic and anisotropic shapes, respectively.

^cBold and normal text indicate that quantum yield measurements have been performed in aqueous solution or organic solvents, respectively. Quantum yield values determined by the relative method are in brackets (comparison with a reference dye) while those determined by the absolute method (integrating sphere) are normal text.

^dNo information is given on the original article on how the quantum yield was measured.

^eQuantum yield measured for the solid-state powder. Each sub-section of the table is chronologically organized from the oldest (top) to the newest (bottom). N/S stands for Not Specified.