Bright, water-soluble CeF sub(3) photo-, cathodo-, and X-ray luminescent nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology 2015-01, Vol.17 (1), p.1-9
• Main Authors: Clement, Sandhya, Deng, Wei, Drozdowicz-Tomsia, Krystyna, Liu, Deming, Zachreson, Cameron, Goldys, Ewa M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coprecipitation; Decay; Defect annealing; Excitation; Fluorescence; Nanoparticles; Photoluminescence; Reaction time; X-rays
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-014-2833-0

Bright, water-soluble CeF sub(3) nanoparticles with small size and narrow size distribution have been synthesized using a simple co-precipitation method without any ligands. Size control of nanoparticles from 13 plus or minus 2 to 9 plus or minus 2 nm was achieved by varying the reaction time. Colloidal properties have been found to vary with pH and, independently, with dilution. The photoluminescence of the as-synthesized nanoparticles shows a highly photostable UV/Visible fluorescence band due to allowed 5d-4f transitions, also observed in the X-ray luminescence spectrum. This band is suitable for X-ray excitation of a range of photosensitizers. The photoluminescence quantum yield of nanoparticles was also determined to be 31 %. Using the measured fluorescence decay time of 25 ns, the radiative lifetime of Ce in CeF sub(3) was found to be 80.6 ns. Both photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence emission are affected by the reaction time and measurement temperature. Electron-beam-induced defect annealing is also observed.