Exploring the surface-to-volume ratio in ultrasmall nanocrystals using the optical probe of Eu3+ ion

Abstract

We demonstrate fine control of the nanocrystal size of ultrasmall Eu³⁺-doped Sc₂O₃ nanocrystals within an extremely small nanometer scale from 2.6 to 9.7 nm, thereby enabling us to thoroughly investigate the size-dependent surface-to-volume ratio in these ultrasmall NCs using an optical probe of the red-emitting Eu³⁺ ion for the first time.