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This study aims to investigate the effect of trisodium nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) on the physical and luminescence emission properties of NaLuF4:Yb, Tm Upconversion (UC) particles and compared with trisodium citrate (CA). Upconversion materials have been remarkably considered in many applications in the past decades. However, the morphology of the UC particles affects their emission properties, depending on the synthesis situation.

The UC particles were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. Properties such as crystal phase, particle morphology, particle size, smoothness and uniformity of particle surface and their emission intensity in the UV–Vis region were studied.

Observations showed that pH is an essential factor in determining the crystalline phase. In addition, quality factors affect the morphology, particle size and surface smoothness of crystalline facets. It was also found that the UC particles synthesized in the presence of trisodium NTA have a much higher emission intensity than those synthesized in the presence of CA. The use of UC particles in security inks to maintain the brand was also investigated.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, for the first time, the effect of trisodium NTA as a chelating agent was investigated on morphology and UC intensity of NaLuF4:Yb,Tm phosphor.