Issue 30, 2017

Nd3+-Sensitized multicolor upconversion luminescence from a sandwiched core/shell/shell nanostructure

Abstract

Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have attracted interest for use in bioimaging, biosensing, and therapeutic applications. These motivations are empowered by multicolor upconversion luminescence (UCL) under single near infrared wavelength excitation at ∼980 nm. However, this wavelength overlaps with the absorption peak of water that is dominant in the biological environment, eliciting a serious biological heating problem. This study reports tailored multicolor UCL from a Nd3+-sensitized sandwich-structure of core/shell/shell UCNPs of NaYbF4:0.5%Tm,1%Nd@ CaF2:30%Nd@CaF2:1%Nd,20%Yb,2%Er that can be excited at single wavelength of ∼800 nm without producing any local heating. Incorporation of substantial Nd3+ sensitizers in the middle shell region allows efficient harvesting of excitation light, with the excitation then migrating bidirectionally across the core/shell interfaces to simultaneously activate blue emission from Tm in the core as well as green and red emission from Er in the outermost shell layer. By precise control of the content of lanthanide ions in each domain, a palette of multicolor UCL can be produced, ranging from blue to white. The described Nd3+-sensitized multicolor UCNPs hold promises for a variety of multiplexed biological applications, without complications from heating effects.

Graphical abstract: Nd3+-Sensitized multicolor upconversion luminescence from a sandwiched core/shell/shell nanostructure

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 Apr 2017
Accepted
13 Jun 2017
First published
14 Jun 2017

Nanoscale, 2017,9, 10633-10638

Nd3+-Sensitized multicolor upconversion luminescence from a sandwiched core/shell/shell nanostructure

S. Hao, G. Chen, C. Yang, W. Shao, W. Wei, Y. Liu and P. N. Prasad, Nanoscale, 2017, 9, 10633 DOI: 10.1039/C7NR02594G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements