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Updated: Feb 3, 2026
Synthesis of Core-shell Lanthanide-doped Upconversion Nanocrystals for Cellular Applications
Published on: November 10, 2017
NaYbF4@CaF2 core-satellite upconversion nanoparticles: one-pot synthesis and sensitive detection of glutathione
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Hong Kong SAR, China. fwang24@cityu.edu.hk.
Abstract:
A new class of core-satellite upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) formed through a kinetically controlled oriented attachment is presented. The core-satellite UCNPs comprising an optically active α-NaYbF4 core and several CaF2 satellites are synthesized by a one-pot sequential injection technique. Compared to conventional core-shell UCNPs, these core-satellite UCNPs show larger surface-to-volume ratios and are suitable for further surface modifications. As a proof-of-concept, a biosensing system is constructed by coating MnO2 nanosheets on the α-NaYbF4:Tm@CaF2 core-satellite UCNPs for high-sensitivity biothiol detection. These core-satellite UCNPs show great potential in the development of UCNP-based nanohybrids for biosensing, multimodal imaging and drug delivery.
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