Nanopatterned PMMA-Yb:Er/Tm:Lu2O3 composites with visible upconversion emissions.
1Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, c/ Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, E-28049 Madrid, Spain.
Nanotechnology
|May 3, 2014
Summary
Researchers created polymer nanostructures containing Ytterbium and Lanthanide-doped nanoparticles. These structures exhibit visible upconversion emissions and allow for optical temperature control and particle release.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Photonics
Background:
- Transparent polymer nanostructures offer unique optical properties.
- Lanthanide-doped nanoparticles are known for their upconversion luminescence.
- Controlling nanoparticle behavior within solid matrices is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate polymer nanostructures incorporating Yb:Ln:Lu2O3 nanoparticles.
- To investigate the upconversion luminescence properties of these nanostructures.
- To explore optical methods for temperature control and particle release.
Main Methods:
- Infiltration of anodized aluminum oxide templates with PMMA and Yb:Ln:Lu2O3 nanoparticles.
- Characterization of nanostructure morphology (diameter, length, period).
- Optical excitation at 978 nm to observe upconversion (UC) emissions.
Main Results:
- Fabrication of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) nanostructures (330-400 nm diameter) with Yb:Ln:Lu2O3 nanoparticles (≈30-35 nm).
- Observation of visible upconversion emissions under 978 nm excitation.
- Optical control of nanostructure temperature around the glass transition temperature of PMMA.
- Demonstration of full-color emission in tridoped (Yb:Er:Tm) samples.
Conclusions:
- Polymer nanostructures with embedded nanoparticles can be fabricated using template infiltration.
- Upconversion luminescence is achievable in these composite nanostructures.
- Optical temperature control offers a novel approach for nanoparticle manipulation within solids.
