Issue 4, 2022

Cubic versus hexagonal – phase, size and morphology effects on the photoluminescence quantum yield of NaGdF4:Er3+/Yb3+ upconverting nanoparticles

Abstract

Upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) are well-known for their capacity to convert near-infrared light into UV/visible light, benefitting various applications where light triggering is required. At the nanoscale, loss of luminescence intensity is observed and thus, a decrease in photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), usually ascribed to surface quenching. We evaluate this by measuring the PLQY of NaGdF4:Er3+,Yb3+ UCNPs as a function of size (ca. 15 to 100 nm) and shape (spheres, cubes, hexagons). Our results show that the PLQY of α-phase NaGdF4 Er3+,Yb3+ surpasses that of β-NaGdF4 for sizes below 20 nm, an observation related to distortion of the crystal lattice when the UCNPs become smaller. The present study also underlines that particle shape must not be neglected as a relevant parameter for PLQY. In fact, based on a mathematical nucleus/hull volumetric model, shape was found to be particularly relevant in the 20 to 60 nm size range of the investigated UCNPs.

Graphical abstract: Cubic versus hexagonal – phase, size and morphology effects on the photoluminescence quantum yield of NaGdF4:Er3+/Yb3+ upconverting nanoparticles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 sep 2021
Accepted
06 jan 2022
First published
06 jan 2022

Nanoscale, 2022,14, 1492-1504

Cubic versus hexagonal – phase, size and morphology effects on the photoluminescence quantum yield of NaGdF4:Er3+/Yb3+ upconverting nanoparticles

M. Quintanilla, E. Hemmer, J. Marques-Hueso, S. Rohani, G. Lucchini, M. Wang, R. R. Zamani, V. Roddatis, A. Speghini, B. S. Richards and F. Vetrone, Nanoscale, 2022, 14, 1492 DOI: 10.1039/D1NR06319G

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