Highly efficient green up-conversion emission from fluoroindate glass nanoparticles functionalized with a
G Lesly Jimenez1, Binita Shrestha2, Tyron Porter2
1Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology A. Mickiewicza 30 30-059 Krakow Poland glesly@agh.edu.pl.
RSC Advances
|August 3, 2022
Summary
Up-conversion nanoparticles efficiently convert near-infrared light to visible light. Researchers developed highly stable, biocompatible fluoroindate glass nanoparticles with 85% quantum yield for advanced nano-transducer applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Photonics
Background:
- Up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) convert low-energy near-infrared (NIR) light to visible light, enabling applications as nano-transducers.
- Low efficiency and poor stability hinder the practical application of UCNPs.
- Developing efficient and stable UCNPs is crucial for advancing nanotechnology and photonics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel fluoroindate glass (InF3) up-conversion nanoparticles doped with Yb3+ and Er3+.
- To enhance the efficiency and stability of UCNPs for potential biomedical applications.
- To functionalize the UCNPs with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to improve biocompatibility.
Main Methods:
- Fluoroindate glass nanoparticles were synthesized using the melting-quenching technique.
- Doping concentrations of Ytterbium (Yb3+) and Erbium (Er3+) were optimized for maximum green emission.
- Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used for characterization.
- Spectral decay curve analysis and absolute quantum yield (QY) measurements were performed.
Main Results:
- The highest green emission (540-552 nm) was achieved with InF3 doped at 1.4 mol% Yb3+ and 1.75 mol% Er3+.
- The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited amorphous nature and high thermal stability.
- An absolute quantum yield (QY) of 85% was obtained, with QYEr = 17% and QYYb = 68%.
- PEG functionalization successfully imparted biocompatibility to the InF3-1.4Yb-1.75Er nanoparticles.
Conclusions:
- Fluoroindate glass nanoparticles doped with Yb3+ and Er3+ demonstrate high efficiency and thermal stability for up-conversion applications.
- The optimized composition and PEG functionalization pave the way for developing biocompatible UCNPs for biomedical uses.
- These advanced UCNPs hold significant promise as remote visible light nano-transducers.
