Issue 16, 2012

Plasmon enhanced upconversion luminescence of NaYF4:Yb,Er@SiO2@Ag core–shell nanocomposites for cell imaging

Abstract

NaYF4:Yb,Er@SiO2@Ag core–shell nanocomposites were prepared to investigate metal-enhanced upconversion luminescence. Two sizes (15 and 30 nm) of Ag nanoparticles were used. The emission intensity of the upconversion nanocrystals was found to be strongly modulated by the presence of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on the outer shell layer of the nanocomposites. The extent of modulation depended on the separation distance between Ag NPs and upconversion nanocrystals. The optimum upconversion luminescence enhancement was observed at a separation distance of 10 nm for Ag NPs with two different sizes (15 and 30 nm). A maximum upconversion luminescence enhancement of 14.4-fold was observed when 15 nm Ag nanoparticles were used and 10.8-fold was observed when 30 nm Ag NPs were used. The separation distance dependent emission intensity is ascribed to the competition between energy transfer and enhanced radiative decay rates. The biocompatibility of the nanocomposites was significantly improved by surface modification with DNA. The biological imaging capabilities of these nanocomposites were demonstrated using B16F0 cells.

Graphical abstract: Plasmon enhanced upconversion luminescence of NaYF4:Yb,Er@SiO2@Ag core–shell nanocomposites for cell imaging

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 May 2012
Accepted
21 Jun 2012
First published
25 Jun 2012

Nanoscale, 2012,4, 5132-5137

Plasmon enhanced upconversion luminescence of NaYF4:Yb,Er@SiO2@Ag core–shell nanocomposites for cell imaging

P. Yuan, Y. H. Lee, M. K. Gnanasammandhan, Z. Guan, Y. Zhang and Q. Xu, Nanoscale, 2012, 4, 5132 DOI: 10.1039/C2NR31241G

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