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Updated: Aug 3, 2025

Synthesis of Core-shell Lanthanide-doped Upconversion Nanocrystals for Cellular Applications
Published on: November 10, 2017
Cooperative Sensitization Upconversion in Solution Dispersions of Co-Crystal Assemblies of Mononuclear Yb3+ and Eu3+
Guotao Sun1,2, Yao Xie2, Yuxin Wang2
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.
Abstract:
Lanthanide upconversion luminescence in nanoparticles has prompted continuous breakthroughs in information storage, temperature sensing, and biomedical applications, among others. Achieving upconversion luminescence at the molecular scale is still a critical challenge in modern chemistry. In this work, we explored the upconversion luminescence of solution dispersions of co-crystals composed of discrete mononuclear Yb(DBM)3 Bpy and Eu(DBM)3 Bpy complexes (DBM: dibenzoylmethane, Bpy: 2,2'-bipyridine). The 613 nm emission of Eu3+ was observed under excitation of Yb3+ at 980 nm. From the series of molecular assemblies studied, the most intense luminescence was obtained for a 1 : 1 molar ratio of Yb3+ : Eu3+ , resulting in a high quantum yield of 0.67 % at 2.1 W cm-2 . The structure and energy transfer mechanism of the assemblies were fully characterized. This is the first example of an Eu3+ -based upconverting system composed of two discrete mononuclear lanthanide complexes present as co-crystals in non-deuterated solution.
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