Strong Stokes and Upconversion Luminescence from Ultrasmall Ln3+‐Doped BiF3 (Ln=Eu3+, Yb3+/Er3+) Nanoparticles Confined in a Polymer Matrix |
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Authors: | Shyam Sarkar Armita Dash Dr. Venkataramanan Mahalingam |
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Affiliation: | Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)‐Kolkata, Mohanpur Campus, Nadia district, WB 741252 (India), Fax: (+91)?33‐25873020 |
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Abstract: | Heavy metal fluorides like BiF3 as a host for lanthanide ions are of interest as bismuth is the only heavy metal that is nontoxic. In this work, we report the synthesis of highly water‐dispersible ultrasmall BiF3 nanoparticles about 6 nm in size within a poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) matrix by a hydrothermal method. Microscopy analysis reveals that the nanoparticles are well separated and confined within the polymer network. These nanoparticles were found to be excellent hosts for lanthanide (Ln3+) ions. Through suitable Ln3+ doping, BiF3 exhibits strong emissions in the visible region upon both UV and near infrared (NIR) excitations. The non‐toxicity of both bismuth and PVP can be advantageous for the potential use of BiF3 nanoparticles in drug delivery and bioimaging. |
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Keywords: | bismuth fluoride hydrophilic lanthanides nanoparticles upconversion |
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