Lanthanide doped NaYF4 core@multi-shell nanoparticles: Synthetic strategy for emission in divergent spectral regions

• Published in: Journal of luminescence 2024-02, Vol.266, p.120284, Article 120284
• Main Authors: Fałat, Patryk, Kuich, Piotr, Tsang, Min Ying, Zelewski, Szymon J., Cichy, Bartłomiej, Samoć, Marek, Nyk, Marcin, Wawrzyńczyk, Dominika
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-2313; 1872-7883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2023.120284

We present the use of lanthanide doped NaYF4 based core@multiple-shell nanoparticles as optical materials showing merged possibilities of engineered photon management processes. We have successfully synthesized and characterized series of NaYF4 core@shell@shell@shell nanomaterials in which the core parts were doped with NIR absorbing/emitting lanthanides (i.e., Nd3+, Yb3+, and Tm3+) to benefit from the complete separation of peristatic quenching processes connected to the interaction with solvent and/or ligand molecules. Followed by covering with an inert shell, Pr3+ ions were doped for VIS-to-UVC up-conversion in the next layer , and finally covered with yet another un-doped protecting shell. The obtained materials were characterized by the means of morphology, crystal structure and spectroscopic properties, with the emphasis put on the measurements in the UVC and NIR spectral regions. The obtained results showed the interesting possibility of merging within designed nanoparticles architectures both UVC light generation for future therapeutic purposes and NIR emission for deep tissue optical imaging diagnostics. •Efficient synthetic method was used to obtain NaYF4 core@multiple-shell nanoparticles.•NIR absorbing/emitting lanthanides were doped in core parts for bio-imaging purposes.•Pr3+ doping allowed for emission in the UVC for anti-germicidal or anti-cancer action.•Obtained core@multiple-shell nanomaterials showed possible theranostic applications.