Synthesis of highly fluorescent LaF{sub 3}:Ln{sup 3+}/LaF{sub 3} core/shell nanocrystals by a surfactant-free aqueous solution route
- Department of Physics, Key Laboratory of Acoustic and Photonic Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072 (China)
A surfactant-free aqueous solution route has been established for the synthesis of LaF{sub 3}:Ln{sup 3+}/LaF{sub 3} core/shell nanocrystals (Ln=Ce, Tb, Nd) heated at 75 deg. C at ambient pressure. All the as-prepared nanocrystals with spherical shape have an average size around 20 nm, and consist of well crystallized hexagonal phases. The X-ray photoelectron spectra was used to confirm that the LaF{sub 3} shells have coated the LaF{sub 3}:Ce{sup 3+}, Tb{sup 3+} cores. Compared with that of the original cores under the same conditions, the emission intensity of the LaF{sub 3}:Ce{sup 3+}, Tb{sup 3+}/LaF{sub 3} and LaF{sub 3}:Nd{sup 3+}/LaF{sub 3} core/shell nanocrystals increased significantly of 120% and 60%, respectively. The quantum yield of the LaF{sub 3}:Ce{sup 3+}, Tb{sup 3+}/LaF{sub 3} core/shell nanocrystals reached about 27% in aqueous solution. These results indicate that a significant reduction of the quenching from the surface of the core nanocrystals can be obtained by the synthesis of the core/shell structures, and this method can provide more desirable lanthanide-doped nanocrystals for potential biological applications. - Graphical abstract: The LaF{sub 3}:Ce{sup 3+}, Tb{sup 3+} nanocrystals with LaF{sub 3} shells exhibited much stronger emission than the original cores.
- OSTI ID:
- 21212235
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Vol. 182, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2008.12.011; PII: S0022-4596(08)00644-0; Copyright (c) 2008 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0022-4596
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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