Near-infrared light-driven photocatalytic NaYF₄:Yb,Tm@ZnO core/shell nanomaterials and their performance

Herein, the infrared-responsive photocatalyst NaYF₄:Yb,Tm@ZnO has been successfully synthesized by combining semiconductor ZnO with an upconversion material, NaYF₄:Yb,Tm. In this composite, NaYF₄:Yb,Tm emits intense ultraviolet and blue upconversion luminescence upon excitation by a 980 nm laser and provides the necessary energy of ultraviolet light to ZnO. The photocatalytic activity of NaYF₄:Yb,Tm@ZnO composites has been studied using methylene blue by irradiation with a 980 nm laser, and the results indicate that the NaYF₄:Yb,Tm@ZnO composite is an advanced near-infrared-driven photocatalyst; this study presents a promising strategy to utilize the near-infrared-responsive upconversion materials for photocatalytic applications.