Tailoring Near-Infrared-IIb Fluorescence of Thulium(III) by Nanocrystal Structure Engineering

Currently, mainstream lanthanide probes with fluorescence located in the second near-infrared subwindow of 1500-1700 nm (NIR-IIb) are predominantly Er(III)-based nanoparticles (NPs). Here we report a newly developed NIR-IIb fluorescent nanoprobe, α-Tm NP (cubic-phase NaYF4@NaYF4:Tm@NaYF4), with an emission at 1630 nm. We activate the 1630 nm emission of Tm(III) in α-Tm NP through the large spread of the Stark split sublevels induced by the crystal-field effect of the α-NaYF4 host. Further, we systematically investigated the effect of crystalline structure of the host NaYF4 NP (cubic phase (α) or hexagonal phase (β)), the type and concentrations of dopants (Yb(III), Tm(III), and Ca(II) ions) in the α-phase host, and the thicknesses of the interlayer and inert shell on the NIR-IIb fluorescence of Tm(III). The ultimate nanostructure presents a significant enhancement factor of the NIR-IIb photoluminescence intensity of Tm(III) up to ∼315. With this bright NIR-IIb fluorescent nanoprobe, we demonstrate high-spatial-resolution time-coursing imaging of breast cancer bone metastasis.

Observation of Stark splitting in micro upconversion photoluminescence spectra of polycrystalline Ln3+ doped Y2O3microspheres

In this study, Yb³⁺-Er³⁺-Tm³⁺doped Y₂O₃microspheres were synthesized using the solvothermal method. Structural, morphological, and elemental analysis was done using XRD, FESEM, and EDX characterization techniques. The optical properties of the samples were determined using UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy and upconversion photoluminescence measurements. The anti-Stokes emission peaks from these polycrystalline phosphor microspheres were obtained using a commercial micro-photoluminescence setup equipped with a 976 nm laser as an excitation source at room temperature. It was compared with the emission spectra taken from a 2-3 mm spot size of 976 nm laser irradiation on the same sample. The micro-emission spectra were analyzed based on possible Stark splitting energy level transitions between the^2S+1L_Jmanifolds of Er³⁺and Tm³⁺ions. A detailed mechanism is outlined for emission in the entire visible region under 976 nm laser excitation.

Tracking Zone-wise perturbation during unfolding of some globular proteins using Eu(III) complex of Tetracycline as a probe exhibiting Stark splitting

Enhanced 'Antenna effect' of a suitably designed ternary complex of Eu(III), Tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) and globular proteins viz bovine serum albumin (BSA), human serum albumin (HSA) and β-lactoglobulin A (BLGA) in aqueous medium is employed to characterize the different partially unfolded states along with investigation of the micro- heterogeneous environment of the proteins during their stepwise unfolding. The zone-wise perturbation for the proteins upon denaturation by Urea and Guanidine hydrochloride (Gdn. HCl) is followed by the emission of Eu(III) through 'Antenna Effect' and that of the tryptophan (Trp) residues of the proteins as a function of denaturants both by steady state and time resolved emission study. With Gdn. HCl as denaturant, both BSA and BLGA show quenching of Eu(III) emission compared to pure protein while HSA exhibits an enhancement of antenna effect during unfolding as compared to that in its absence. In the presence of Urea, HSA and BSA show enhancement of antenna effect accompanied by Stark splitting of the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition of Eu(III) although BLGA follows the similar pattern of quenching of Eu(III) emission as observed with Gdn. HCl without any Stark splitting. The proteins exhibit a two state transition with ΔG_D values of ~ 2-3 kcal mol^-1. Thus the use of Eu(III) emission as an efficient probe is advocating here to rationalize the microenvironment of the proteins during their stepwise unfolding.

Optical Characterization of Nano- and Microcrystals of EuPO₄ Created by One-Step Synthesis of Antimony-Germanate-Silicate Glass Modified by P₂O₅

Technology of active glass-ceramics (GC) is an important part of luminescent materials engineering. The classic method to obtain GC is based on annealing of parent glass in proper temperature and different time periods. Generally, only the bulk materials are investigated as a starting host for further applications. However, the effect of an additional heat-treatment process on emission and structural properties during GC processing is omitted. Here, we focus on the possibility of obtaining transparent glass-ceramic doped with europium ions directly with a melt-quenching method. The influence of phosphate concentration (up to 10 mol %) on the inversion symmetry of local environment of Eu3+ ions in antimony-germanate-silicate (SGS) glass has been investigated. The Stark splitting of luminescence spectra and the local asymmetry ratio estimated by relation of (⁵D₀→⁷F₂)/(⁵D₀→⁷F₁) transitions in fabricated glass confirms higher local symmetry around Eu3+ ions. Based on XRD and SEM/EDX measurements, the EuPO₄ nano- and microcrystals with monoclinic geometry were determined. Therefore, in our experiment, we confirmed possibility of one-step approach to fabricate crystalline structures (glass-ceramic) in Eu-doped SGS glass without additional annealing process.