Engineering Sensitized Photon Upconversion Efficiency via Nanocrystal Wavefunction and Molecular Geometry

Triplet energy transfer from inorganic nanocrystals to molecular acceptors has attracted strong attention for high‐efficiency photon upconversion. Here we study this problem using CsPbBr₃ and CdSe nanocrystals as triplet donors and carboxylated anthracene isomers as acceptors. We find that the position of the carboxyl anchoring group on the molecule dictates the donor‐acceptor coupling to be either through‐bond or through‐space, while the relative strength of the two coupling pathways is controlled by the wavefunction leakage of nanocrystals that can be quantitatively tuned by nanocrystal sizes or shell thicknesses. By simultaneously engineering molecular geometry and nanocrystal wavefunction, energy transfer and photon upconversion efficiencies of a nanocrystal/molecule system can be improved by orders of magnitude.     

Near‐Infrared Multipurpose Lanthanide‐Imaging Nanoprobes

Optical imaging plays a growing role in modern biomedical research and clinical applications due to its high sensitivity, superb spatiotemporal resolution and minimal hazards. Lanthanide‐doped nanoparticles (LDNPs), as a classical category of luminescent materials, exhibit promising photostability, near‐infrared (NIR)‐excited frequency up‐/down‐converting capabilities, emission fine‐tuning and multispectral features, which have greatly promoted the endeavors of deeper and clearer diagnostics in complex living conditions. This review focuses on the recent advances of LDNP‐based multipurpose imaging studies using upconversion, downshifting, lifetime, photoacoustic and multimodal nanoprobes in the NIR (650–1000 nm) and the second near‐infrared window (NIR‐II, 1000–1700 nm). The principle and design of various functional, activatable, multiplexing or multimodal lanthanide‐imaging nanoprobes (LINPs) as well as representative biophotonic applications are summarized in detail. In addition, the future perspectives and challenges for facilitating LINPs to clinical translations are discussed.     

Multi-Channel Optical Device for Solar-Driven Bacterial Inactivation under Real-Time Temperature Feedback

Solar-driven photothermal antibacterial devices have attracted a lot of interest due to the fact that solar energy is one of the cleanest sources of energy in the world. However, conventional materials have a narrow absorbance band, resulting in deficient solar harvesting. In addition, lack of knowledge on temperature change in these devices during the photothermal process has also led to a waste of energy. Here, we presented an elegant multi-channel optical device with a multilayer structure to simultaneously address the above-mentioned issues in solar-driven antibacterial devices. In the photothermal channel, semiconductor IrO₂-nanoaggregates exhibited higher solar absorbance and photothermal conversion efficiency compared with nanoparticles. In the luminescence channel, thermal-sensitive Er-doped upconversion nanoparticles were utilized to reflect the microscale temperature in real-time. The bacteria were successfully inactivated during the photothermal effect under solar irradiation with temperature monitoring. This study could provide valuable insight for the development of smart photothermal devices for solar-driven photothermal bacterial inactivation in the future.     

核酸适配体功能化的稀土上转换纳米材料在生物检测中的应用

稀土上转换纳米材料可以吸收近红外光并发射出可见光或紫外光,在生物传感领域得到了广泛研究。核酸适配体能高特异性和高亲和性地与靶标物结合,被广泛应用于生物传感、疾病诊断等领域。将稀土上转换纳米材料与核酸适配体结合构建的检测体系,可实现对目标物灵敏、高选择性的检测。本文介绍了近几年核酸适配体功能化的稀土上转换纳米材料在生物小分子、蛋白质、核酸、病原微生物、细胞等方面的应用,并展望了其在分析检测领域的发展前景。     

试验优化设计Er3+-Yb3+共掺杂Gd2Ti2O7上转换发光特性

采用溶胶-凝胶（Sol-gel）法制备了Er³⁺-Yb³⁺共掺杂Gd₂Ti₂O₇纳米晶粉末,通过试验优化设计的理论建立了Er³⁺-Yb³⁺掺杂浓度与发光强度的回归方程,利用遗传算法优化计算出方程的最优解Er³⁺、Yb³⁺掺杂浓度分别为5.60%（物质的量分数）和13.43%。Er³⁺-Yb³⁺共掺杂Gd₂Ti₂O₇纳米晶粉末为单一面心立方Gd₂Ti₂O₇相结构,随Yb³⁺共掺杂浓度增加,X射线衍射峰逐渐向高角偏移。在976 nm激光激发下,Er³⁺-Yb³⁺共掺杂Gd₂Ti₂O₇获得了分别对应于Er³⁺的²H_11/2/⁴S_3/2→⁴I_15/2和⁴F_9/2→⁴I_15/2跃迁的绿色和红色上转换发光,且绿色和红色发光均为双光子吸收过程。研究了最优样品上转换发光与温度之间的关系,发现绿色上转换发光具有优良的温度传感特性,对红色上转换发光的温度猝灭进行了解释。     

Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Dots: A Facile and General Preparation Method,Photoluminescence Investigation,and Imaging Applications

Carbon dots (Cdots) are an important probe for imaging and sensing applications because of their fluorescence property, good biocompatibility, and low toxicity. However, complex procedures and strong acid treatment are often required and Cdots suffer from low photoluminescence (PL) emission. Herein, a facile and general strategy using carbonization of precursors and then extraction with solvents is proposed for the preparation of nitrogen‐doped Cdots (N‐Cdots) with 3‐(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐L ‐alanine (L ‐DOPA), L ‐histidine, and L ‐arginine as precursor models. After they are heated, the precursors become carbonized. Nitrogen‐doped Cdots are subsequently extracted into N,N′‐dimethylformamide (DMF) from the carbogenic solid. A core–shell structure of Cdots with a carbon core and the oxygen‐containing shell was observed. Nitrogen has different forms in N‐Cdots and oxidized N‐Cdots. The doped nitrogen and low oxidation level in N‐Cdots improve their emission significantly. The N‐Cdots show an emission with a nitrogen‐content‐dependent intensity and Cdot‐size‐dependent emission‐peak wavelength. Imaging of HeLa cells, a human cervical cancer cell line, and HepG2 cells, a human hepatocellular liver carcinoma line, was observed with high resolution using N‐Cdots as a probe and validates their use in imaging applications and their multicolor property in the living cell system.     

Li+掺杂对Y2SiO5:Pr3+上转换发光性能影响

采用溶胶-凝胶法制备Li+掺杂改性的Y2SiO5:Pr3+上转换发光材料,考察了Li+掺杂对样品晶型及发光性能的影响。采用XRD,DSC-TGA,FS对所制备的材料进行表征,结果表明Li+掺入浓度在7%～8%(摩尔分数)之间会引起Y2SiO5晶体类型由X1型转变为X2型,且Li+掺入后样品转晶型温度由950℃降至800℃;样品经800℃煅烧处理后以X1型Y2SiO5为主相,850℃煅烧处理后以X2型Y2SiO5为主相;Li+掺入同时会提高Y2SiO5:Pr3+材料的上转换发光强度,Li+最佳掺杂浓度为10%,对于双掺杂Pr3+,Li+:Y2SiO5体系中Pr3+最佳掺杂浓度为1.2%。     

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。