Controlled hydrothermal growth and up-conversion emission of NaLnF(4) (Ln = Y, Dy-Yb)

The controlled hydrothermal preparation of NaYF(4) as both cubic and hexagonal phase types with specific associated morphologies, nanospheres and microtubes, respectively, has been achieved in the absence of organic solvents. The hexagonal NaYF(4) compound can be prepared in novel microtubular form and directly co-doped with Yb(3+)/Er(3+) ions. When excited by infrared light of 980 nm, these hexagonal NaYF(4) microtubes display strong green up-conversion emission, which was much more intense than that of cubic NaYF(4) or hexagonal NaYF(4) nanoparticles. Other related hexagonal-prismatic microtubes of NaLnF(4) (Ln = Dy-Yb) were also synthesized. A growth mechanism for the microtubes is proposed. In general, the diameter of the hexagonal NaLnF(4) microtubes is strongly dependent on the Ln(3+) size and increases as the rare-earth ionic radius decreases.     

Monodisperse lanthanide fluoride nanocrystals: synthesis and luminescent properties

Three types of high-quality, monodisperse lanthanide fluoride colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) including LnF(3) (Ln = La-Pr), NaLnF(4) (Ln = Sm-Er), and Na(5)Ln(9)F(32) (Ln = Tm-Lu) with two crystal phases (hexagonal and cubic) and a rich variety of morphologies have been synthesized in high boiling organic solvents oleic acid and 1-octadecene, via a thermal decomposition pathway. The as-synthesized NCs were well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and photoluminescence (PL) spectra, respectively. It is found that the as-synthesized NCs consist of monodisperse nanoparticles with diverse shapes and narrow size distribution, which can easily disperse in nonpolar cyclohexane solvent. Additionally, a possible mechanism of NC nucleation and growth has been proposed. The results reveal that the formation of monodisperse NCs closely correlates with the inherent nature of lanthanide series from La to Lu. Under 980 nm NIR excitation, as-synthesized Yb(3+)/Ln(3+) (Ln = Er, Tm, Ho)-doped NaGdF(4) and Na(5)Lu(9)F(32) colloidal NCs show the respective characteristic up-conversion (UC) emissions of Er(3+), Tm(3+), and Ho(3+), which are promising for applications in biolabels, bioimaging, displays, and other optical technologies.     

Controllable synthesis and tunable luminescence properties of Y2(WO4)3:Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Yb/Er, Yb/Tm and Yb/Ho) 3D hierarchical architectures

Yttrium tungstate precursors with novel 3D hierarchical architectures assembled from nanosheet building blocks were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method with the assistance of sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS). After calcination, the precursors were easily converted to Y(2)(WO(4))(3) without an obvious change in morphology. The as-prepared precursors and Y(2)(WO(4))(3) were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectra, respectively. The results reveal that the morphology and dimensions of the as-prepared precursors can be effectively tuned by altering the amounts of organic SDBS and the reaction time, and the possible formation mechanism was also proposed. Upon ultraviolet (UV) excitation, the emission of Y(2)(WO(4))(3):x mol% Eu(3+) microcrystals can be tuned from white to red, and the doping concentration of Eu(3+) has been optimized. Furthermore, the up-conversion (UC) luminescence properties as well as the emission mechanisms of Y(2)(WO(4))(3):Yb(3+)/Ln(3+) (Ln = Er, Tm, Ho) microcrystals were systematically investigated, which show green (Er(3+), (4)S(3/2), (2)H(11/2)→(4)I(15/2)), blue (Tm(3+), (1)G(4)→(3)H(6)) and yellow (Ho(3+), (5)S(2)→(5)I(8)) luminescence under 980 nm NIR excitation. Moreover, the doping concentration of the Yb(3+) has been optimized under a fixed concentration of Er(3+) for the UC emission of Y(2)(WO(4))(3):Yb(3+)/Er(3+).     

Facile synthesis and multicolor luminescent properties of uniform Lu2O3:Ln (Ln=Eu3+, Tb3+, Yb3+/Er3+, Yb3+/Tm3+, and Yb3+/Ho3+) nanospheres

Multicolor Lu(2)O(3):Ln (Ln=Eu(3+), Tb(3+), Yb(3+)/Er(3+), Yb(3+)/Tm(3+), and Yb(3+)/Ho(3+)) nanocrystals (NCs) with uniform spherical morphology were prepared through a facile urea-assisted homogeneous precipitation method followed by a subsequent calcination process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS), Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), and photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as kinetic decays were employed to characterize these samples. The XRD results reveal that the as-prepared nanospheres can be well indexed to cubic Lu(2)O(3) phase with high purity. The SEM images show the obtained Lu(2)O(3):Ln samples consist of regular nanospheres with the mean diameter of 95 nm. And the possible formation mechanism is also proposed. Upon ultraviolet (UV) excitation, Lu(2)O(3):Ln (Ln=Eu(3+) and Tb(3+)) NCs exhibit bright red (Eu(3+), (5)D(0)→(7)F(2)), and green (Tb(3+), (5)D(4)→(7)F(5)) down-conversion (DC) emissions. Under 980 nm NIR irradiation, Lu(2)O(3):Ln (Ln=Yb(3+)/Er(3+), Yb(3+)/Tm(3+), and Yb(3+)/Ho(3+)) NCs display the typical up-conversion (UC) emissions of green (Er(3+), (4)S(3/2),(2)H(11/2)→(4)I(15/2)), blue (Tm(3+), (1)G(4)→(3)H(6)) and yellow-green (Ho(3+), (5)F(4), (5)S(2)→(5)I(8)), respectively.     

Controllable synthesis and up-conversion properties of tetragonal BaYF5:Yb/Ln (Ln=Er, Tm, and Ho) nanocrystals

The nanocrystals (NCs) of tetragonal barium yttrium fluoride (BaYF(5)) doped 1 mol% Ln(3+) (Ln=Er, Tm, Ho) and 20 mol% Yb(3+) with different morphologies and sizes have been successfully synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method. The influences of pH values of the initial solution and fluorine sources on the final structure and morphology of the products have been well investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to characterize the size, structure and morphology of these samples prepared at different conditions. And it is found that BaYF(5):Yb/Ln NCs prepared at pH value of 10 using NaBF(4) as F(-) source have a uniform spherical morphology with average diameter of 25 nm. Additionally, the up-conversion (UC) properties of Yb/Er, Yb/Tm, and Yb/Ho doped BaYF(5) nanoparticles were also discussed. Under 980 nm laser excitation, the BaYF(5):Yb/Er, BaYF(5):Yb/Tm, and BaYF(5):Yb/Ho NCs exhibit green, whitish blue, and yellow green UC luminescence, respectively. The luminescence mechanisms for the doped lanthanide ions were thoroughly analyzed.     

Preparation and up-conversion luminescence of hollow La2O3:Ln (Ln = Yb/Er, Yb/Ho) microspheres

Hollow La(2)O(3):Ln (Ln = Yb/Er, Yb/Ho) microspheres with up-conversion (UC) luminescence properties were successfully synthesized via a facile sacrificial template method by employing carbon spheres as hard templates followed by a subsequent heating process. The structure, morphology, formation process, and fluorescent properties are well investigated by various techniques. The results indicate that the hollow La(2)O(3):Ln microspheres can be well indexed to the hexagonal La(2)O(3) phase. The hollow La(2)O(3):Ln microspheres with uniform diameter of about 270 nm maintain the spherical morphology and good dispersion of the carbon spheres template. The shell of the hollow microspheres consists of numerous nanocrystals with the thickness of approximately 40 nm. Moreover, the possible formation mechanism of evolution from the carbon spheres to the amorphous precursor and to the final hollow La(2)O(3):Ln microspheres has also been proposed. The Yb/Er and Yb/Ho codoped La(2)O(3) hollow spheres exhibit bright up-conversion luminescence with different colors derived from different activators under the 980 nm NIR laser excitation. Furthermore, the doping concentration of the Yb(3+) is optimized under fixed concentration of Er(3+)/Ho(3+). This material may find potential applications in drug delivery, hydrogen and Li ion storage, and luminescent displays based on the uniform hollow structure, dimension, and UC luminescence properties.     

Highly uniform and monodisperse beta-NaYF(4):Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Tb, Yb/Er, and Yb/Tm) hexagonal microprism crystals: hydrothermal synthesis and luminescent properties

beta-NaYF4:Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Tb, Yb/Er, and Yb/Tm) hexagonal microprisms with remarkably uniform morphology and size have been synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as kinetic decays were used to characterize the samples. It is found that sodium citrate as a shape modifier introduced into the reaction system plays a critical role in the shape evolution of the final products. Furthermore, the shape and size of the products can be further manipulated by adjusting the molar ratio of citrate/RE3+ (RE represents the total amount of Y3+ and the doped rare earth elements such as Eu3+, Tb3+, Yb3+/Er3+, or Yb3+/Tm3+). Under the excitation of 397 nm ultraviolet light, NaYF4:xEu3+ (x = 1.5, 5%) shows the emission lines of Eu3+ corresponding to 5D0-3 --> 7FJ (J = 0-4) transitions from 400 to 700 nm (whole visible spectral region) with different intensity, resulting in yellow and red down-conversion (DC) light emissions, respectively. When doped with 5% Tb3+ ions, the strong DC fluorescence corresponding to 5D4 --> 7FJ (J = 6, 5, 4, 3) transitions with 5D4 --> 7F5 (green emission at 544 nm) being the most prominent group that has been observed. In addition, under 980 nm laser excitation, the Yb3+/Er3+- and Yb3+/Tm3+-codoped beta-NaYF4 samples exhibit bright green and whitish blue up-conversion (UC) luminescence, respectively. The luminescence mechanisms for the doped lanthanide ions were thoroughly analyzed.     

Branched NaYF(4) nanocrystals with luminescent properties

In this article, branched NaYF(4) nanocrystals have been successfully synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method. On the basis of the analysis of HRTEM and TEM images, the growth modes of the branched structure and further branching behavior have been proposed. The up- and down-conversion luminescence of branched NaYF(4):Er(3+)/Yb(3+) and NaYF(4):Eu(3+) have been characterized. Multiarmed NaYF(4) phosphors can be introduced into polystyrene to form composite luminescent polymers because of its special geometrical shape. In conclusion, the luminescent branched particles should be of wide potential application as building blocks in the future nanoscience and nanotechnology.     

Synthesis of colloidal upconverting NaYF4 nanocrystals doped with Er3+, Yb3+ and Tm3+, Yb3+ via thermal decomposition of lanthanide trifluoroacetate precursors

Upconverting lanthanide-doped nanocrystals were synthesized via the thermal decomposition of trifluoroacetate precursors in a mixture of oleic acid and octadecene. This method provides highly luminescent nanoparticles through a simple one-pot technique with only one preparatory step. The Er3+, Yb3+ and Tm3+, Yb3+ doped cubic NaYF4 nanocrystals are colloidally stable in nonpolar organic solvents and exhibit green/red and blue upconversion luminescence, respectively, under 977 nm laser excitation with low power densities.     

六方相NaYF4:Yb/Er纳米晶制备方法研究进展

综述了六方相NaYF4:Yb/Er纳米晶的制备方法,着重总结了三氟乙酸盐热分解法、共沉淀法、碳酸盐热分解法、离子热法、水热法及两步法的研究进展,并就其发展前景进行了展望.     

NaYF4:Yb,Er/Tm上转换荧光纳米材料的合成、修饰及应用*

上转换荧光纳米材料NaYF4:Yb,Er/Tm因具有独特的上转换发光性能,在固体激光器、三维立体演示、红外成像等很多方面都有着重要的应用。近年来,NaYF4:Yb,Er/Tm上转换纳米颗粒作为荧光标记物用于生物标记引起了研究者的浓厚兴趣。合成出高质量、高荧光性能的NaYF4:Yb,Er/Tm上转换纳米颗粒是使之能够在生物医学等领域广泛应用的前提条件。本文针对NaYF4:Yb,Er/Tm上转换荧光纳米颗粒的合成方法、表面修饰以及生物应用等方面的研究进展进行综述。     

NaYF4∶Er3＋, Yb3＋纳米晶的液相合成

采用丙三醇液相结晶法制备了NaYF4∶Er3＋, Yb3＋上转换纳米晶, 合成步骤被简化. 常温下, 用980 nm的红外激光激发可以观察到很强的绿光、红光发射, 用荧光光谱仪记录了该上转换光谱. X射线粉末衍射(XRD)结果表明, 该方法制备NaYF4∶Er3＋, Yb3＋纳米晶属于立方混合六方晶系. 研究了纳米晶的上转换发光机理, 根据晶体场理论对Er3＋的两个上转换能级进行了Stark分裂计算, 对两个能级之间的谱线进行了归属, 进一步证实了980 nm光子激发Er3＋离子的上转换机理, 一个是连续吸收两个980 nm光子的过程(激发态吸收), 另一个是吸收980 nm光子后, 电子转移到亚稳态能级, 然后再吸收980 nm光子过程(能量转移上转换).     

Near-infrared luminescent hybrid materials doped with lanthanide (Ln) complexes (Ln = Nd, Yb) and their possible laser application

The crystal structures of ternary Ln(DBM)(3)phen complexes (DBM = dibenzoylmethane, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, and Ln = Nd, Yb) and their in situ syntheses via the sol-gel process are reported. The properties of the Ln(DBM)(3)phen complexes and their corresponding Ln(3+)/DBM/phen-co-doped luminescent hybrid gels obtained via an in situ method (Ln-D-P gel) have been studied. The results reveal that the lanthanide complexes are successfully in situ synthesized in the corresponding Ln-D-P gels. Both Ln(DBM)(3)phen complexes and Ln-D-P gels display sensitized near-infrared (NIR) luminescence upon excitation at the maximum absorption of the ligands, which contributes to the efficient energy transfer from the ligands to the Ln(3+) ions (Ln = Nd, Yb), an antenna effect. The radiative properties of the Nd(3+) ion in a Nd-D-P gel are discussed using Judd-Ofelt analysis, which indicates that the (4)F(3/2) --> (4)I(11/2) transition of the Nd(3+) ion in the Nd-D-P gel can be considered as a possible laser transition.     

High-quality sodium rare-earth fluoride nanocrystals: controlled synthesis and optical properties

We report a general synthesis of high-quality cubic (alpha-phase) and hexagonal (beta-phase) NaREF4 (RE: Pr to Lu, Y) nanocrystals (nanopolyhedra, nanorods, nanoplates, and nanospheres) and NaYF(4):Yb,Er/Tm nanocrystals (nanopolyhedra and nanoplates) via the co-thermolysis of Na(CF3COO) and RE(CF3COO)3 in oleic acid/oleylamine/1-octadecene. By tuning the ratio of Na/RE, solvent composition, reaction temperature and time, we can manipulate phase, shape, and size of the nanocrystals. On the basis of its alpha --> beta phase transition behavior, along the rare-earth series, NaREF4 can be divided into three groups (I: Pr and Nd; II: Sm to Tb; III: Dy to Lu, Y). The whole controlled-synthesis mechanism can be explained from the point of view of free energy. Photoluminescent measurements indicate that the value of I610/I590 and the overall emission intensity of the NaEuF4 nanocrystals are highly correlative with the symmetries of the Eu3+ ions in both the lattice and the surface.     

Facile and mass production synthesis of β-NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+/Tm3+ 1D microstructures with multicolor up-conversion luminescence

Well defined, pure hexagonal-phased NaYF(4):Yb(3+),Er(3+)/Tm(3+) microtubes and microrods were first prepared by a facile and mass production molten salt method without using any surfactant, which offers a new alternative in synthesizing such materials and opens the possibility to meet the increasing commercial demand.     

Sub-10 nm hexagonal lanthanide-doped NaLuF4 upconversion nanocrystals for sensitive bioimaging in vivo

By thermal decomposition in the presence only of oleylamine, sub-10 nm hexagonal NaLuF(4)-based nanocrystals codoped with Gd(3+), Yb(3+), and Er(3+) (or Tm(3+)) have been successfully synthesized. Sub-10 nm β-NaLuF(4): 24 mol % Gd(3+), 20 mol % Yb(3+), 1 mol % Tm(3+) nanocrystals display bright upconversion luminescence (UCL) with a quantum yield of 0.47 ± 0.06% under continuous-wave excitation at 980 nm. Furthermore, through the use of β-NaLuF(4):Gd(3+),Yb(3+),Tm(3+) nanocrystals as a luminescent label, the detection limit of <50 nanocrystal-labeled cells was achieved for whole-body photoluminescent imaging of a small animal (mouse), and high-contrast UCL imaging of a whole-body black mouse with a penetration depth of ~2 cm was achieved.     

Synthesis of hexagonal-phase core-shell NaYF4 nanocrystals with tunable upconversion fluorescence

Hexagonal-phase core-shell-structured NaYF 4:Yb,Tm@beta-NaYF 4:Yb,Er and beta-NaYF 4:Yb,Tm@beta-NaYF 4:Yb,Er@beta-NaYF 4:Yb,Tm nanocrystals were synthesized by a seeded growth approach. beta-NaYF 4:Yb,Tm nanocrystals with 20 nm diameter were used as seed crystals to induce the growth of beta-NaYF 4:Yb,Er and then beta-NaYF 4:Yb,Tm crystals, resulting in the formation of core-shell-structured nanocrystals with upconverting lanthanide ions Tm and Er doped in the core and shell, respectively.     

Synthesis and characterization of heterodinuclear Ln(3+)-Fe3+ and Ln(3+)-Co3+ complexes,bridged by cyanide ligand (Ln3+ = lanthanide ions). Nature of the magnetic interaction in the Ln(3+)-Fe3+ complexes

The reaction of Ln(NO3)3.aq with K3[Fe(CN)6] or K3[Co(CN)6] in N,N'-dimethylformamide (DMF) led to 25 heterodinuclear [Ln(DMF)4(H2O)3(mu-CN)Fe(CN)5].nH2O and [Ln(DMF)4(H2O)3(mu-CN)Co(CN)5].nH2O complexes (with Ln = all the lanthanide(III) ions, except promethium and lutetium). Five complexes (Pr(3+)-Fe3+), (Tm(3+)-Fe3+), (Ce(3+)-Co3+), (Sm(3+)-Co3+), and (Yb(3+)-Co3+) have been structurally characterized; they crystallize in the equivalent monoclinic space groups P21/c or P21/n. Structural studies of these two families show that they are isomorphous. This relationship in conjunction with the diamagnetism of the Co3+ allows an approximation to the nature of coupling between the iron(III) and the lanthanide(III) ions in the [Ln(DMF)4(H2O)3(mu-CN)Fe(CN)5].nH2O complexes. The Ln(3+)-Fe3+ interaction is antiferromagnetic for Ln = Ce, Nd, Gd, and Dy and ferromagnetic for Ln = Tb, Ho, and Tm. For Ln = Pr, Eu, Er, Sm, and Yb, there is no sign of any significant interaction. The isotropic nature of Gd3+ helps to evaluate the value of the exchange interaction.     

Heteroleptic lanthanide compounds with chalcogenolate ligands: reduction of PhNNPh/PhEEPh (E = Se or Te) mixtures with Ln (Ln = Ho, Er, Tm, Yb). Thermolysis can give LnN or LnE

Lanthanide metals reduce mixtures of azobenzene and PhEEPh (E = Se or Te) in pyridine to give the bimetallic compounds [(py)2Ln(EPh)(PhNNPh)]2 (E = Se, Ln = Ho (1), Er (2), Tm (3), Yb (4); E = Te, Ln = Ho (5), Er (6), Tm (7), Yb (8)). The structures of [(py)2Er(mu-eta 2-eta 2-PhNNPh)(SePh)](2).2py (2) and [(py)2Ho(mu-eta 2-eta 2-PhNNPh)(TePh)](2).2py (5) have been determined by low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and the nearly identical unit cell volumes of the remaining compounds indicate they are most likely isomorphous to 2 or 5. In all compounds, the Ln(III) ions are bridged by a pair of mu-eta 2-eta 2-PhNNPh ligands that, from the N-N bond length, have clearly been reduced to dianions. Charge is balanced by the single terminal EPh ligand on each Ln, and the coordination sphere is saturated by two pyridine donors to give seven coordinate metal centers. Thermal decomposition of 5 gives HoTe, 8 gives a mixture of YbN and YbTe, and 1 does not give a crystalline solid-state product. Crystal data (Mo K alpha, 153(2) K) are as follows: 2, monoclinic group P2(1)/n, a = 11.864(3) A, b = 14.188(2) A, c = 17.624(2) A, beta = 91.62(2) degrees, V = 2965(1) A3, Z = 4; 5, triclinic space group P1, a = 10.349(2) A, b = 17.662(4) A, c = 17.730(8) A, alpha = 75.82(3) degrees, beta = 74.11(3) degrees, gamma = 89.45(2) degrees, V = 3016(2) A3, Z = 2.     

Monodisperse upconversion Er3+/Yb3+:MFCl (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) nanocrystals synthesized via a seed-based chlorination route

Monodisperse Yb(3+)/Er(3+):MFCl nanocrystals were fabricated via a simple and effective seed-based chlorination route for the first time. Remarkably, their upconversion emissions are found to be greatly intensified compared with those of the well-reported Er(3+)/Yb(3+):SrF(2) with the same size and shape.