Effect of Pr3+concentration in luminescence properties & upconversion mechanism of triple doped NaYF4: Yb3+, Er3+, Pr3

Lanthanide-doped fluoride nanocrystals (NCs) exhibit excellent optical features, including upconversion and downconversion luminescence (UCL and DCL), that can be utilized in a variety of applications. In this study, we have successfully demonstrated the photoluminescence behavior of triple-doped NaYF4: Yb3+, Er3+, Pr3+NCs in the Vis-NIR region. Herein, highly monodisperse hexagonal phase NaYF4: Yb0.2, Er0.02, Prxnanocrystals in various Pr3+(x = 0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 mol %) concentration with ∼22 nm diameter synthesized by thermal decomposition technique. The photoluminescence studies for all samples were performed under 980 nm laser excitation. The luminescence intensity of Er3+including blue (407 nm), green (520 and 540 nm), red (654 nm), and near-infrared (845 nm and 1530 nm) emissions was significantly quenched and Pr3+emission intensity at 1290 nm (Pr3+:1G4→3H5) changes irregularly upon doping with Pr3+ions. Furthermore, we performed the excitation power dependence and decay time analysis to investigate the energy transfer and upconversion mechanisms of samples. These findings indicate that the presence of praseodymium strongly reduces emission intensities due to abundant cross-relaxation channels. In addition, particle size is an efficient factor, shedding light on the influence of Pr3+on the energy transfer and upconversion mechanisms of the fluorides.

Research Progress on Up-Conversion Fluorescence Probe for Detection of Perfluorooctanoic Acid in Water Treatment

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a new type of organic pollutant in wastewater that is persistent, toxic, and accumulates in living organisms. The development of rapid and sensitive analytical methods to detect PFOA in environmental media is of great importance. Fluorescence detection has the advantages of high efficiency and low cost, in which fluorescent probes have excellent fluorescence properties, excellent bio-solubility, and remarkable photostability. It is necessary to review the fluorescence detection routes for PFOA. In addition, the up-conversion of fluorescent materials (UCNPs), as fluorescent materials to prepare fluorescent probes with, has significant advantages and also attracts the attention of researchers, however, reviews related to their application in detecting PFOA and comparing them with other routes are rare. Furthermore, there are many strategies to improve the performance of up-conversion fluorescent probes including SiO₂ modification and amino modification. These strategies can enhance the detection effect of PFOA. Thus, this work reviews the types of fluorescence detection, the design, and synthesis of UCNPs, their recognition mechanism, properties, and their application progress. Moreover, the development trend and prospects of these detection probes are given.

Rare earth-doped nanocrystals for bioimaging in the near-infrared region

Rare earth-doped nanocrystals are widely used in medical diagnostics and bioimaging due to their narrow luminescence emission spectra (10-20 nm), long lifetime, and no photobleaching properties. Especially in the near-infrared (NIR) region, deeper tissue imaging can be achieved with low background luminescence and high spatial resolution. Further precise image-guided diagnosis and treatment can be achieved by using multimodal imaging such as MRI/CT/NIR/PA. Here, we focus on the construction of rare earth-doped nanocrystals, optical properties, and progress of such nanocomposites for bioimaging in the NIR region. In addition, the limitations at this stage in the field of bioimaging and the prospects for future technological development of rare earth-doped nanocrystals are present.

A multi-color persistent luminescent phosphor β-NaYF4:RE3+ (RE = Sm, Tb, Dy, Pr) for dynamic anti-counterfeiting

Conventional luminescent materials generally exhibit uni-color and transient emission under UV excitation, which makes them mediocre in the field of anti-counterfeiting. The high-level anti-counterfeiting techniques are always becoming more complicated and in need of multi-color and persistent luminescent materials. Herein, we report a series of β-NaYF₄:RE³⁺ (RE = Sm, Tb, Dy, Pr) persistent luminescent phosphors with multi-color emitting and ultra-long persistent luminescence under the irradiation of X-rays. The effects of doping concentrations of RE³⁺ on the size, morphology, radioluminescence and afterglow performance of the products are investigated in detail. Hexagonal structured rod-like β-NaYF₄:Tb³⁺ crystals show super strong X-ray response and the afterglow signal lasts for up to seven days after X-rays are turned off. Upon X-rays irradiation, some of the F⁻ ions are expected to escape from the crystal lattice by elastic collisions, leading to the generation of Frenkel defects: the F vacancies and interstitials , which capture electrons and release them slowly to achieve different afterglow emission times. Taking advantages of the extraordinary radioluminescence performance of the β-NaYF₄:RE³⁺ persistent luminescent phosphors, the dynamic anti-counterfeiting patterns that containing rich time-resolved information were successfully designed.

A dynamic anti-counterfeiting pattern was successfully designed by using the excellent luminescence characteristics of long afterglow materials under X-ray excitation.

Fabrication of two-phase Ca2+-doped LaVO4:Eu3+ structures: morphology modification, tunable optical performance and detection of Fe3+ ions with high sensitivity

Two-phase Ca²⁺-doped LaVO₄:Eu³⁺ nanocrystals were prepared through a hydrothermal method with the help of SOD CITR and EDTA surfactants. The phase and morphology of the products were characterized by XRD and TEM, and the fluorescence performances were also recorded. The results indicated that Ca²⁺ ions were doped into the LaVO₄:Eu³⁺ host lattice, impeding the aggregation of the nanocrystals and enhancing the luminescence intensity. The morphology transformation process and luminescence enhancement were systematacially investigated. The fluorescence intensity of the two selected samples could be completely quenched by Fe³⁺ ions without the disturbance of other ions, with the mechanism being due to the adsorption of Fe³⁺ ions onto the grains and a subsequent energy transfer from Eu³⁺ to Fe³⁺. Therefore, the present two Ca²⁺-doped LaVO₄:Eu³⁺ samples can be applied as appropriate candidates for detecting Fe³⁺ ions with agility and sensitivity in aqueous solution.

nanocrystals (0 ≤ x ≤ 1): growth, size control and shell formation on β-NaCeF4:Tb core particles

is an interesting shell material for β-NaREF₄ particles of the lighter lanthanides (RE = Ce, Pr, Nd), as variation of its strontium content x allows to vary its lattice parameters and match those of the core material.

A down converting serine-functionalised NaYF4:Ce3+/Gd3+/Eu3+@NaGdF4:Tb3+ photoluminescent probe for chemical sensing of explosive nitroaromatic compounds

In this contribution, we explored a novel serine-functionalised NaYF₄:Ce³⁺/Gd³⁺/Eu³⁺@NaGdF₄:Tb³⁺ core–shell nanophosphor as a down-converting photoluminescent probe for efficient sensing of nitroaromatic explosives.

Core-mediated synthesis, growth mechanism and near-infrared luminescence enhancement of α-NaGdF4@β-NaLuF4:Nd3+ core–shell nanocrystals

High-performance α-NaGdF₄@β-NaLuF₄:Nd³⁺ nanocrystals have been constructed based on a core-mediated method. Their near-infrared emission intensity was eventually enhanced by more than 2 times.