Quick synthesis, functionalization and properties of uniform, luminescent LuPO₄-based nanoparticles

Abstract

The aim of this study was to find a surfactant-free method for the synthesis of uniform Eu:LuPO 4 nanophosphors which are able to form stable colloidal suspensions in aqueous media. Uniform, ovoid Eu-doped LuPO 4 fluorescent nanoparticles were obtained after aging for 30 minutes at 180 C a butylene glycol solution containing, exclusively, lutetium acetate, europium acetate and H 3 PO 4 . XRD and digital diffraction patterns of HRTEM images suggested that the particles were single crystalline in nature with the c-axis of the unit cell parallel to the long particle axis. The luminescence study revealed that the optimum doping level was 5 molar%. The latter particles (85 nm  40 nm dimensions) were functionalized with polyacrylic acid and their colloidal stability in two different biological buffers was demonstrated to persist for at least 15 days. 954460165; Tel: +34 95448945 † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: SEM micrographs of LuPO 4 samples prepared changing one of the experimental conditions described in Fig.

Persistent luminescence of transparent ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ thin films from colloidal nanoparticles of tunable size

“…doping on the size of the particles could be due to the influence of doping cations on the precipitation energy barriers, and therefore, on the kinetics of the nucleation and particles growth, which determine the final particles size and shape, according to the LaMer and Dinnegar model. 45 It is worth noting that the effect of tuning particle size with varying doping ion concentration has been observed before in systems doped with lanthanide ions 46,47 . This is the first time that Cr content is proposed as a tool to tune ZnGa 2 O 4 :Cr particle size.…”

Luminescent Rare-earth-based Nanoparticles: A Summarized Overview of their Synthesis, Functionalization, and Applications

“…These strategies include an optimization of the different reaction parameters, such as solvents (including mixtures of them), precursors, concentrations, temperature and presence of additives. Many different luminescent and uniform Ln-doped inorganic NPs, including fluorides [41][42][43][44], phosphates [45][46][47][48], and vanadates [19,21] have been reported. Microwaveassisted methods in both water and polyol-based solvents have also been described, resulting in much shorter reaction times [49][50].…”

Luminescent Rare-earth-based Nanoparticles: A Summarized Overview of their Synthesis, Functionalization, and Applications

“…Among the latters, a general synthesis strategy based on a phase transfer and separation mechanism occurring at the interfaces of the liquid, solid and solution (LSS) phases during the synthesis normally produces small Ln-doped inorganic nanoparticles with a narrow particle size distribution, a high luminescence efficiency, and a high phase purity of the particles [37]. These syntheses are carried out in organic solvents (such as oleic or linoleic acids, ethanol, octadecene, eicosene, trioctylamine) in presence of additives such as sodium oleate, sodium linoleate, trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO), and stearic acid at high temperatures (200 -400 ºC) [38][39][40] phosphates [45][46][47][48], and vanadates [19,21] have been reported. Microwaveassisted methods in both water and polyol-based solvents have also been described, resulting in much shorter reaction times [49][50].…”