Quick synthesis, functionalization and properties of uniform, luminescent LuPO4-based nanoparticles

Abstract

The aim of this study was to find a surfactant-free method for the synthesis of uniform Eu:LuPO₄ nanophosphors which are able to form stable colloidal suspensions in aqueous media. Uniform, ovoid Eu-doped LuPO₄ fluorescent nanoparticles were obtained after aging for 30 minutes at 180 °C a butylene glycol solution containing, exclusively, lutetium acetate, europium acetate and H₃PO₄. XRD and digital diffraction patterns of HRTEM images suggested that the particles were single crystalline in nature with the c-axis of the unit cell parallel to the long particle axis. The luminescence study revealed that the optimum doping level was 5 molar%. The latter particles (85 nm × 40 nm dimensions) were functionalized with polyacrylic acid and their colloidal stability in two different biological buffers was demonstrated to persist for at least 15 days.