Synthesis of NaLuF sub(4)-based nanocrystals and large enhancement of upconversion luminescence of NaLuF sub(4):Gd, Yb, Er by coating an active shell for bioimaging

A series of NaLuF sub(4)-based hexagonal phase upconversion nanocrystals (UCNs) were synthesized by a facile solvothermal method and the properties of the UCNs were investigated. The results show that the as-prepared nanocrystals exhibit pure hexagonal lattice structures, uniform morphologies, high...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Dalton transactions : an international journal of inorganic chemistry 2014-08, Vol.43 (37), p.14001-14008
Main Authors: Ouyang, Juan, Yin, Dongguang, Cao, Xianzhang, Wang, Chengcheng, Song, Kailin, Liu, Bing, Zhang, Lu, Han, Yanlin, Wu, Minghong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coating
Hexagonal lattice
Luminescence
Mathematical morphology
Nanocrystals
Shells
Synthesis
Upconversion
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Summary:A series of NaLuF sub(4)-based hexagonal phase upconversion nanocrystals (UCNs) were synthesized by a facile solvothermal method and the properties of the UCNs were investigated. The results show that the as-prepared nanocrystals exhibit pure hexagonal lattice structures, uniform morphologies, high monodispersities and excellent upconversion luminescence. The upconversion luminescence (UCL) intensities of the UCNs can be enhanced by coating with a shell of NaLuF sub(4). More interestingly, the UCL intensities of active-shell coated nanocrystals (NaLuF sub(4):Gd, Yb, EraLuF sub(4):Yb, Ho and NaLuF sub(4):Gd, Yb, EraLuF sub(4):Yb) are remarkably higher than that of inert-shell coated nanocrystals (NaLuF sub(4):Gd, Yb, EraLuF sub(4)), and NaLuF sub(4):Gd, Yb, EraLuF sub(4):Yb, Ho is higher than NaLuF sub(4):Gd, Yb, EraLuF sub(4):Yb. The mechanisms of upconversion luminescence enhancement are discussed in detail. The bioimaging application of the nanocrystals showed that bright upconversion luminescence was observed when UCNs-labeled HeLa cells were excited with 980 nm light. This study presents a facile method for the synthesis of NaLuF sub(4)-based upconversion nanocrystals with intense luminescence that can be used as potential fluorescent probes for sensitive bioimaging, and the suggested mechanism could provide new insights into fabrication of upconversion materials with high upconversion fluorescence.
ISSN:1477-9226
1477-9234
DOI:10.1039/c4dt00509k