Particle Size Dependent Absolute Photoluminescence Quantum Yields and Lifetimes of Hexagonal beta-NaYF4: 2 % Er3+, 20 % Yb3+ Upconversion Nanoparticles in Cyclohexane and Water
- Hexagonal beta-NaYF₄ doped with 20 % Yb and 2 % Er is an efficient upconversion (UC) phosphor for the conversion of 976 nm to 845 nm, 655 nm and 540 nm light. The emission behavior of this material is strongly influenced by the particle size, surface chemistry, and microenvironment. Especially the design of nm-sized UC particles for bioanalytical applications requires reliable spectroscopic tools for the characterization of the optical properties of these materials like the UC quantum yield (QYUC) in aqueous media. The UC emission originates from multiphotonic absorption processes, rendering the QYUC excitation power density (P) dependent. The P-dependent absolute measurement of QYUC in aqueous media with an excitation wavelength of 976 nm presents a considerable challenge due to the low absorption coefficients of the UC materials and the absorption of water at this wavelength.
Here, we present the P-dependent QYUC of 21 nm, 26 nm and 31 nm-sized NaYF₄ UC particles dispersed inHexagonal beta-NaYF₄ doped with 20 % Yb and 2 % Er is an efficient upconversion (UC) phosphor for the conversion of 976 nm to 845 nm, 655 nm and 540 nm light. The emission behavior of this material is strongly influenced by the particle size, surface chemistry, and microenvironment. Especially the design of nm-sized UC particles for bioanalytical applications requires reliable spectroscopic tools for the characterization of the optical properties of these materials like the UC quantum yield (QYUC) in aqueous media. The UC emission originates from multiphotonic absorption processes, rendering the QYUC excitation power density (P) dependent. The P-dependent absolute measurement of QYUC in aqueous media with an excitation wavelength of 976 nm presents a considerable challenge due to the low absorption coefficients of the UC materials and the absorption of water at this wavelength.
Here, we present the P-dependent QYUC of 21 nm, 26 nm and 31 nm-sized NaYF₄ UC particles dispersed in cyclohexane and aqueous solutions, in view of bioanalytical applications. To gain a better insight of the photonic nature of the upconversion mechanism and the quenching processes involved, the luminescence decay behavior as well as the P-dependent red-to-green luminescence intensity ratios and slope factors of the different emission bands are studied in both solvents. These results present an important step to the rational design of brighter upconversion nanoparticles.…