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.     

Phase control of upconversion nanocrystals and new rare earth fluorides though a diffusion-controlled strategy in a hydrothermal system

Here we report a general hydrothermal technology to obtain well-known rare earth fluorides involving β-NaYF(4):Yb, Er/Tm and β-NaGdF(4):Yb, Er/Tm upconversion nanocrystals, one new polymorph of γ-REF(3) (RE = Eu-Tm, Y) and hexagonal LiREF(4) (RE = Nd-Lu, Y) colloidal nanocrystals.     

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.     

Novel heterometal-organic complexes as first single source precursors for up-converting NaY(Ln)F4 (Ln = Yb, Er, Tm) nanomaterials

First heterometal-organic single source precursors for NaYF(4) nanomaterials as a host matrix for up-conversion emission are reported. These novel heterobimetallic derivatives NaY(TFA)(4)(diglyme) (1), [Na(triglyme)(2)][Y(2)(TFA)(7)(THF)(2)] (2) and Na(2)Y(TFA)(5)(tetraglyme) (3) (TFA = trifluoroacetate), which were fully characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and (1)H NMR spectroscopy, TG-DTA data as well as single crystal X-ray structures, are advantageous in terms of being anhydrous and having lower decomposition temperatures in comparison to the homometallic precursor Y(TFA)(3)(H(2)O)(3). In addition, they also contain chelating glyme ligands, which act as capping reagents during decomposition to control the NaYF(4) particle size and render them monodisperse in organic solvents. On decomposition in 1-octadecene, the molecular derivatives 1 and 3 are converted, in the absence of any surfactant or capping reagent, to cubic NaYF(4) nanocrystals at significantly lower temperatures (below 250 °C). At higher temperature, a mixture of the cubic and hexagonal phases was obtained, the relative ratio of the two phases depending on the reaction temperature. A pure hexagonal phase, which is many folds more efficient for UC emission than the cubic phase, was obtained by calcining nanocrystals of mixed phase at 400 °C. In order to co-dope this host matrix with up-converting lanthanide cations, analogous complexes NaLn(TFA)(4)(diglyme) [Ln = Er (4), Tm (5), Yb (6)] and Na(2)Ln(TFA)(5)(tetraglyme) [Ln = Er (7), Yb (8)] were also prepared and characterized. The decomposition in 1-octadecene of suitable combinations and appropriate molar ratios of these yttrium, ytterbium and erbium/thulium derivatives gave cubic and/or hexagonal NaYF(4): Yb(3+), Er(3+)/Tm(3+) nanocrystals (NCs) capped by diglyme or tetraglyme ligands, which were characterized by IR, TG-DTA data, EDX analysis and TEM studies. Surface modification of these NCs by ligand exchange reactions with poly acrylic acid (PAA) and polyethyleneglycol (PEG) diacid 600 was also carried out to render them water soluble. The THF solutions of suitable combinations of the diglyme derivatives were also used to elaborate the thin films of NaYF(4):Yb(3+), Er(3+)/Tm(3+) on a glass or Si wafer substrate by spin coating. The multicolour up-conversion fluorescence was successfully realized in the Yb(3+)/Er(3+) (green/red) and Yb(3+)/Tm(3+) (blue/violet) co-doped NaYF(4) nanoparticles and thin films, which demonstrates that they are promising UC nanophosphors of immense practical interest. The up-conversion excitation pathways for the Er(3+)/Yb(3+) and Tm(3+)/Yb(3+) co-doped materials are discussed.     

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.     

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.     

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。     

Controllable synthesis of β-NaYF4:Yb,Er nanorods by potassium oleate as ligand

By using potassium oleate (KOL) as a part of ligand, nanorods of β-NaYF₄:Yb,Er were synthesized. The aspect ratio of β-NaYF₄:Yb,Er nanocrystals was tuned by changing the amount of KOL. We found that potassium from KOL is not only absorbed on the surface of nanocrystals, but also partially substitutes Na element in nanocrystals lattice. Different from the classical shape control mechanism that oleate ions are absorbed on different facets of nanocrystals, the anisotropic growth of β-NaYF₄:Yb,Er in current work is caused by the doping of K⁺. The incorporation of K⁺ would not lead to obvious decrease of the upconversion fluorescence intensity. Meanwhile, oleate ions promote the phase transition of nanocrystals from cubic to hexagonal phase, resulting in the simultaneous controllability of the nanocrystals size.     

Upconversion properties of Er3+, Yb3+ and Tm3+ codoped fluorophosphate glasses

Er3+, Yb3+ and Tm3+ codoped fluorophosphate glasses emitting blue, green and red upconversion luminescence at 970 nm laser diode excitation were studied. It was shown that Tm3+ behaves as the sensitizer to Er3+ for the green upconversion luminescence through the energy transfer process: Tm3+:3H4+Er3+:4I 15/2-->Er3+:4I 9/2+Tm3+:3H6, and for the red upconversion luminescence through the energy transfer process: Tm3+:3F4+Er3+:4I 11/2-->Tm3+:3H6+Er3+:4F 9/2. Moreover, Er3+ acts as quenching center for the blue upconversion luminescence of Tm3+. The sensitization of Tm3+ to Er3+ depends on the concentration of Yb3+. The intensity of blue, green and red emissions can be changed by adjusting the concentrations of the three kinds of rare earth ions. This research may provide useful information for the development of high color and spatial resolution devices and white light simulation.     

Lanthanide doping-facilitated growth of ultrasmall monodisperse Ba2LaF7 nanocrystals with excellent photoluminescence

Lanthanide doping not only works as sensitizer and activator, but also plays an important role to facilitate the growth of nanocrystal and to control the size, shape, and property of nanocrystals. Here, reported was the synthesis of monodisperse Ba(2)LaF(7) nanocrystals with the size of sub-10nm through a solvothermal method. We found the dopants of Ho(3+), Er(3+), or Yb(3+) facilitated the growth of Ba(2)LaF(7) nanocrystals obviously to a certain size within a shorter reaction time. Similar phenomenon can also be observed in the synthesis of LaF(3) nanocrystals. We find that Ln(3+) (e.g., Ho(3+), Er(3+), or Yb(3+)) with smaller radius can reduce the nucleation energy and lead to heterogeneous nucleation, which favors the growth of Ba(2)LaF(7) nanocrystals obviously. In addition, intense upconversion emission can be observed from Ln(3+)-doped Ba(2)LaF(7) nanocrystals under the 980 nm laser excitation, providing great potential application in biological imaging. Especially, Ba(2)LaF(7):Yb/Er (20/1 mol%) nanocrystals present more intense upconversion emission than α-NaYF(4):Yb/Er (20/1 mol%) nanocrystals under the same conditions.     

超细YF_3与GdF_3纳米晶的合成及其上转换发光

当使用液固溶法(LSS法)制备分散性纳米晶时,将传统油酸/油酸钠/酒精反应体系中的NaOH用氨水取代时,氨水将会与油酸形成新的表面活性剂油酸铵,这样就可以合成各种超细分散性的REF3纳米晶(RE代表稀土元素)。在这种新的反应体系中,合成了平均直径小于10 nm的YF3和GdF3超细颗粒,X射线与透射电镜测试表明YF3是正交相,而GdF3是面心立方结构,空间群为Fm3m,晶格常数为0.582 9 nm。在980 nm半导体激光器激发下,可检测到YF3∶Yb/Er在515~570 nm处有较强的绿色发光峰、645~675 nm处有较强的红色发光峰,呈橙色发光。YF3∶Yb/Tm和GdF3∶Yb/Tm样品在460~490 nm处有较强的蓝色发光峰,而在800 nm附近有更强的近红外发光峰。由于其超细的尺寸及红外上转换发光特性,合成的样品在生物成像、生物标签等方面有潜在的应用价值。     

超细YF3与GdF3纳米晶的合成及其上转换发光

当使用液固溶法（LSS法）制备分散性纳米晶时,将传统油酸/油酸钠/酒精反应体系中的NaOH用氨水取代时,氨水将会与油酸形成新的表面活性剂油酸铵,这样就可以合成各种超细分散性的REF₃纳米晶（RE代表稀土元素）。在这种新的反应体系中,合成了平均直径小于10nm的YF₃和GdF₃超细颗粒,X射线与透射电镜测试表明YF₃是正交相,而GdF₃是面心立方结构,空间群为Fm3m,晶格常数为0.5829nm。在980nm半导体激光器激发下,可检测到YF₃：Yb/Er在515~570nm处有较强的绿色发光峰、645~675nm处有较强的红色发光峰,呈橙色发光。YF：Yb/Tm和GdF₃：Yb/Tm样品在460~490nm处有较强的蓝色发光峰,而在800nm附近有更强的近红外发光峰。由于其超细的尺寸及红外上转换发光特性,合成的样品在生物成像,生物标签等方面有潜在的应用价值。     

Controlled synthesis of uniform and monodisperse upconversion core/mesoporous silica shell nanocomposites for bimodal imaging

Here we report the design and controlled synthesis of monodisperse and precisely size-controllable UCNP@mSiO(2) nanocomposites smaller than 50?nm by directly coating a mesoporous silica shell (mSiO(2)) on upconversion nanocrystals NaYF(4):Tm/Yb/Gd (UCNPs), which can be used as near-infrared fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents and a platform for drug delivery as well. Some key steps such as transferring hydrophobic UCNPs to the water phase by using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), removal of the excess amount of CTAB, and temperature-controlled ultrasonication treatment should be adopted and carefully monitored to obtain uniform upconversion core/mesoporous silica shell nanocomposites. The excellent performance of the core-shell-structured nanocomposite in near-infrared fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging was also demonstrated.     

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.     

Shape,Size, and Phase‐Controlled Rare‐Earth Fluoride Nanocrystals with Optical Up‐Conversion Properties

High‐quality rare‐earth fluorides, α‐NaMF₄ (M=Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Y, Yb, and Lu) nanocrystals and β‐NaMF₄ (M=Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Y, Yb, and Lu) nanoarrays, have been synthesized by using oleic acid as a stabilizing agent through a facile hydrothermal method at 130–230 °C. The phase, shape, and size of the products are varied by careful control of synthetic conditions, including hydrothermal temperature and time, and the amounts of reactants and solvents. Tuning the hydrothermal temperature, time, and the amount of NaOH can cause the transformation from the cubic α‐NaMF₄ to hexagonal phase β‐NaMF₄. Upon adjustment of the amount of NaOH, NaF, M³⁺, and ethanol, the morphologies for the β‐NaMF₄ nanoarrays can range from tube, rod, wire, and zigzagged rod, to flower‐patterned disk. Simultaneously, the size of the rare‐earth fluoride crystals is variable from 5 nm to several micrometers. A combination of “diffusion‐controlled growth” and the “organic–inorganic interface effect” is proposed to understand the formation of the nanocrystals. An ideal “1D growth” of rare‐earth fluorides is preferred at high temperatures and high ethanol contents, from which the tube‐ and rodlike nanoarrays with high aspect ratio are obtained. In contrast, the disklike β‐NaMF₄ nanoarrays with low aspect ratios are produced by decreasing the ethanol content or prolonging the reaction time, an effect probably caused by “1D/2D ripening”. Multicolor up‐conversion fluorescence is also successfully realized in the Yb³⁺/Er³⁺ (green, red) and Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺ (blue) co‐doped α‐NaYF₄ nanocrystals and β‐NaYF₄ nanoarrays by excitation in the NIR region (980 nm).     

Near‐Infrared‐Light‐Driven Artificial Photosynthesis by Nanobiocatalytic Assemblies

Artificial photosynthesis in nanobiocatalytic assemblies aims to reconstruct man‐made photosensitizers, electron mediators, electron donors, and redox enzymes for solar synthesis of valuable chemicals through photochemical cofactor regeneration. Herein, we report, for the first time, on nanobiocatalytic artificial photosynthesis in near‐infrared (NIR) light, which constitutes over 46% of the solar energy. For NIR‐light‐driven photoenzymatic synthesis, we synthesized silica‐coated upconversion nanoparticles, Si‐NaYF4:Yb,Er and Si‐NaYF4:Yb,Tm, for efficient photon‐conversion through Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) with rose bengal (RB), a photosensitizer. We observed NIR‐induced electron transfer by using linear sweep voltammetric analysis; this indicates that photoexcited electrons of RB/Si‐NaYF4:Yb,Er are transferred to NAD+ through a Rh‐based electron mediator. RB/Si‐NaYF4:Yb,Er nanoparticles, which exhibit higher FRET efficiency due to more spectral overlap than RB/Si‐NaYF4:Yb,Tm, perform much better in the photoenzymatic conversion.     

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).     

化学气相传输法分离二元混合重稀土氧化物

稀土气态配合物;化学气相传输法分离二元混合重稀土氧化物     

交流电弧中共存稀土元素对光谱线强度影响的研究

本工作较系统地研究了在交流电弧中不同量的共存稀土元素镝、钬，饵，铥和镱对某些被测稀土元素光谱线强度的影响。用交流电弧激发溶液干渣样品，其样品是在固定量的被测元素溶液中各自分别加入不同量的共存元素镝、钬、铒、铥和镱，摄谱后测量各被测元素的光谱线强度对共存元素在溶液中各个不同浓度作关系曲线。     

ZrO2∶Er3+,Yb3+纳米晶的制备及Er3+离子能级在晶体场中的分裂

采用1,3-丁二醇低热结晶法制备了ZrO2∶Er3+,Yb3+纳米晶.常温下,用980nm的红外激光激发可以观察到很强的ZrO2∶Er3+,Yb3+纳米晶红光发射,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,ZrO2∶Er3+,Yb3+纳米晶属于立方晶系.研究了纳米晶的上转换发光机理,根据晶体场理论对Er3+的2个上转换能级进行了Stark分裂计算,对2个能级之间的谱线进行了归属,进一步证实了980nm激发Er3+离子的上转换经历两个过程:一是连续吸收2个980nm光子的过程,二是吸收980nm光子,电子转移到亚稳态能级后,再吸收980nm光子的过程