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Photoluminescence Quantum Yields of Luminescent Nanocrystals and Particles in the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR
(2023)
The rational design of functional luminescent materials such as semiconductor quantum dots and lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles, all photophysical and mechanistic studies, and the comparison of different emitters require accurate and quantitative photoluminescence measurements. Particularly the reliable determination of the key performance parameter photoluminescence quantum yield (f), the number of emitted per absorbed photons, and the brightness are of special importance for luminescence applications in the life and material sciences and nano(bio)photonics.[1] In this context, examples for absolute measurements of the photoluminescence quantum yields of UV/vis/NIR/SWIR emissive semiconductor quantum dots and rods, made from different materials, and spectrally shifting lanthanide upconversion nanocrystals with different surface chemistries in transparent matrices are presented including excitation wavelength and power density dependent studies utilizing integration sphere spectroscopy.[2,3] In addition, procedures for the absolute determination of the photoluminescence quantum yields of scattering dispersions of larger size quantum rods and differently sized inorganic particles have been developed as well as procedures for the characterization of solid luminescent nanomaterials such as different perovskites and YAG:Cer converter materials.[4] Thereby, challenges and pitfalls of f measurements in different wavelength regions including the SWIR and material-specific effects related to certain emitter classes are addressed, achievable uncertainties are quantified, and relative and absolute measurements of photoluminescence quantum yield measurements are compared to underline limitations of the former approach. Finally, a set of novel UV/vis/NIR quantum yield standards is presented including their certification with a complete uncertainty budget.[5]
pH and oxygen are amongst the most important and frequently measured analytes in the life and material sciences, indicating, e.g., diseases and corrosion processes. This includes the optical monitoring of pH in living cells for studying cellular internalization pathways, such as phagocytosis, endocytosis, and receptor ligand internalization with the aid of molecular and nanoscale fluorescent sensors. Nanoparticle (NP)-based sensors, that are labeled or stained with a multitude of sensor dyes, have several advantages as compare to conventional molecular probes like enhanced brightness, i.e., amplified signals, ease of designing ratiometric systems by combining analyte sensitive and inert reference dyes, and increased photostability. Moreover, this can enable the use of hydrophobic dyes in aqueous environments. Versatile templates and carriers for the fabrication of nanosensors by the staining and/or labelling with different fluorophores and sensor molecules or surface functionalized NP like silica (SiO2-NP) and polystyrene (PS-NP) particles provide. Here we present the design of a versatile platform of color emissive nanosensors and stimuli-responsive microparticles for the measurement of pH, oxygen, and other targets utilizing both types of matrices and sets of spectrally distinguishable sensor and reference dyes and their characterization and demonstrate the applicability of representative sensor particle for cellular studies.
NaYF4:Yb3+/Tm3+@NaGdF4:Nd3+/Yb3+ upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) were prepared using a solvothermal method, and the effects of key factors such as the content of sensitiser Nd 3+ and Yb3+ on their luminescence properties were investigated. The nanoparticles are homogeneous in size and well dispersed. Under 808 nm excitation, it can produce strong upconversion fluorescence. At the same time, the nanoparticles have good temperature-sensing properties at the thermally coupled energy levels of 700 nm and 646 nm for Tm3+. Using its fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR), accurate temperature measurements can be performed, and it has been found that it exhibits different temperature sensing properties in low and high-temperature regions. The maximum relative sensitivity was found to be 0.88% K-1 and 1.89% K-1 for the lowtemperature region of 285 K-345 K and the high-temperature region of 345 K-495 K. The nanoparticles were applied to the internal temperature measurement of lithium batteries and the actual high-temperature environment, respectively, and were found to have good temperature measurementt performance.
A new “green” and mild synthesis of highly stable microcrystalline Cs2AgxNa1-xBiyIn1-yCl6 (CANBIC) perovskites under ambient conditions was developed that is scalable to the multi-gram production. Under UV illumination, the CANBIC perovskites emit intense broadband photoluminescence (PL) with a quantum yield (QY) of 92% observed for x = 0.35 and y = 0.01-0.02. The combination of strong UV absorbance and broadband visible emission, high PL QY, and long PL lifetimes of up to 1.4 μs, along with an outstanding stability makes these CANBICs a promising material class for many optical applications.
Standardisation of concentration measurements of extracellular vesicles for medical diagnoses
(2020)
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived particles in body fluids, which have excellent potential as next generation biomarkers for the early diagnosis of common diseases, such as cancer and thrombosis. This project aims to tap into the clinical potential of EVs by developing traceable measurements of number concentration, size distribution, refractive index (RI) and fluorescence intensity of cell-specific EVs in human blood and urine.
To realise our aims, we will develop synthetic reference materials with physical properties resembling EVs (WP1), instrumentation and procedures to standardise EV measurements in clinical laboratories (WP2), and ready-to-use biological test samples (WP3). These will then be evaluated in an inter-laboratory comparison study across a range (>20) of standard flow cytometers in clinical labs (WP4).
Photoluminescence techniques are amongst the most widely used tools in the life sciences, with new and exciting applications in medical diagnostics and molecular imaging continuously emerging. Advantages include their comparative ease of use, unique sensitivity, non-invasive character, and potential for multiplexing, remote sensing, and miniaturization. General drawbacks are, however, signals, that contain unwanted wavelength- and polarization contributions from instrument-dependent effects, which are also time-dependent due to aging of instrument-components, and difficulties to measure absolute fluorescence intensities. Moreover, scattering systems require special measurement geometries and the interest in new optical reporters with emission > 1000 nm strategies for reliable measurements in the second diagnostic for the comparison of material performance and the rational design of new fluorophores with improved properties.
Here, we present strategies to versatile method-adaptable liquid and solid fluorescence standards for different fluorescence parameters. Examples are multi-emitter glasses, spectral fluorescence standards, and quantum yield standards for the UV/vis/NIR.
The comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of molecular and nanoscale reporters require accurate and quantitative photo-luminescence measurements. This is of special importance for all photoluminescence applications in the life and material sciences and nanobiophotonics. In the following, procedures for the determination of the spectroscopic key parameter photoluminescence quantum yield, i.e., the number of emitted per absorbed photons, in the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR are presented including pitfalls and achievable uncertainties and material-specific effects related to certain emitter classes are addressed.
Mandatory for the comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of molecular and nanoscale reporters are reliable and quantitative photoluminescence measurements. This is of special relevance for all fluorescence applications in the life and material sciences. In the following, procedures for the determination of this spectroscopic key parameter are presented including pitfalls and achievable uncertainties and material-specific effects related to certain emitter classes are addressed.
Optical spectroscopic studies of the influence of size, particle architecture, and surface chemistry of different types of photoluminescent nanocrystals with emission in the vis/NIR will be presented including semiconductor quantum dots and lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles. This will include the photophysics of these materials assessed with steady state and time-resolved fluorometry on the ensemble and single particle level and concepts for the quantification of surface groups at nanomaterials with optical methods using cleavable probes and catch-and-release assays.
Relative and Absolute Methods for Measuring Photoluminescence Quantum Yields of UV/vis/NIR Emitters
(2019)
One of the key spectroscopic performance parameters of molecular and particulate emitters is the photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) that provides a direct measure for the number of emitted per absorbed photons. This triggered the interest in methods suitable for measuring this property for emitters in various environments in the UV/vis/NIR and above 1000 nm as well as on the ensemble and single emitter level. Moreover, for nonlinear emitters like lanthanide-based upconversion nanocrystals methods including instrumentation for power density-dependent PL QY studies are required.
An overview of the research activities in Division Biophotonics of BAM is given and suitable relative and absolute methods for the deter-mination of PL QY of organic dyes and different types of application-relevant nanomaterials in dispersion and in the solid state are presen-ted. This covers also the design and calibration of integrating sphere setups, achievable uncertainties, and candidates for PL QY reference materials.
The increasing interest in molecular and nanoscale emitters with photoluminescence > 800 nm and recently also > 1000 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, bioimaging, and safety Barcodes requires quantitative spectroscopic studies, which are, however still challenging in this long wavelength region. This is of special relevance for nanocrystalline emitters like semiconductor quantum dots and rods as well as lanthanide-based upconversion and downconversion nanocrystals, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control accomplishable photoluminescence quantum yields and hence, signal sizes and detection sensitivities from the reporter side. Moreover, nonlinear emitters like lanthanide-based upconversion nanocrystals require also power density-dependent studies of their luminescence spectra, quantum yields, and decay kinetics. Here, we present suitable absolute methods and underline the impact of such measurements on a profound mechanistic understanding of the nonradiative deactivation pathways in semiconductor and upconversion nanocrystals of different chemical composition and particle architecture.
Many applications of nanomaterials in the life sciences require the controlled functionalization of these materials with ligands like polyethylene glycol (PEG) and/or biomolecules such as peptides, proteins, and DNA. This enables to tune their hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, minimize unspecific interactions, improve biofunction-nalization efficiencies, and enhance blood circulation times and is the ultimate prerequisite for their use as reporters in assays or the design of targeted optial probes for bioimaging.
At the core of these functionalization strategies are reliable and validated methods for surface group and ligand quantification that can be preferably performed with routine laboratory instrumentation, require only small amounts of substances, and are suitable for many different types of nanomaterials.
We present here versatile and simple concepts for the quantification of common functional groups, ligands, and biomolecules on different types of organic and inorganic nano-materials, using different types of optical reporters and method validation with the aid of multimodal reporters and mass balances.
Lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) offer new strategies for luminescence-based sensing and imaging. One of the best studied materials are hexagonal ß-NaYF4 UCNPs doped with 20% Yb3+ and 2% Er3+, which efficiently convert 976 nm light to photons emitted at 540 nm, 655 nm, and 845 nm, respectively, reveal Long luminescence lifetimes (> 100 µs), and are very photostable and chemically inters.[1,2] The properties of their upconversion (UC) luminescence (UCL) are, however, strongly influenced by particle size, concentration and spatial arrangement of dopant Ions, surface chemistry, and microenvironment.[3,4] In addition, the multiphotonic absorption processes responsible for UCL render UCL dependent on excitation power density (P).
The rational design of brighter UCNPs particle architectures encouraged us to assess systematically the influence of these parameters on UCL for differently doped UCNPs relying on the commonly used ß-NaYf4 matrix using steady state and time resolved fluorometry as well as integrating sphere spectroscopy for P varied over almost three orders of magnitude. This includes comprehensive studies of the influence of size and shell, Yb3+ and Er3+ dopand concentrations, and energy Transfer processes from UCNPs to surface-bound organic dyes or vice versa [5]. Our results underline the need for really quantitative luminescence studies for mechanistic insights, the potential of high p to compensate for UCL surface quenching, and the matrix- and P-dependence of the optimum dopand concentration.
Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are of great interest for biomedical applications. Currently, the applicability of UCNP bionanotechnology is hampered by the generally low luminescence intensity of UCNPs and inefficient energy Transfer from UCNPs to surface-bound chromophores used e.g. for photodynamic therapy or analyte sensing. In this work, we address the low-Efficiency issue by developing versatile core-Shell nanostructures, where high-concentration sensitizers and activators are confined in the core and Shell Region of representative hexagonal NaYF2:Yb,Er UCNPs. After Doping concentration optimization, the sensitizer-rich core is able to harvest/accumulate more excitation energy and generate almost one order of Magnitude higher luminescence intesity than conventional homogeneously doped nanostructures. At the same time, the activator Ions located in the Shell enable a ~6 times more efficient resonant energy Transfer from UCNPs to surface-bound acceptor dye molecules due to the short distance between donor-acceptor pairs. Our work provides new insights into the rational design of UCNPs and will greatly encrease the General applicability of upconversion nanotechnologies.
Trends in fluorometry and fluorescence imaging are increasing applications of molecular and nanoscale reporters with emission > 800 nm and recently also > 1000 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, bioimaging, and safety barcodes. Mandatory for the comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of reporters for the short wavelength infrared (SWIR) region are reliable and quantitative photoluminescence measurements in this challenging wavelength region. This is of special relevance for nanocrystalline emitters like semiconductor quantum dots and rods as well as lanthanide-based upconversion and downconversion nanocrystals, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control accomplishable photoluminescence quantum yields and hence, signal sizes and detection sensitivities from the reporter side. Such measurements are currently hampered by the lack of suitable methods and standards for instrument calibration and validation and quantum yield standards with emission > 800 nm and especially > 1000 nm.
In this respect, we present the design of integrating sphere setups for absolute and excitation power density-dependent measurements of emission spectra and photoluminescence quantum yields in the wavelength region of 650 to 1650 nm including calibration strategies and first candidates for potential fluorescence standards. Subsequently, selected examples for spectroscopic studies of different types of nanocrystals are presented including the upconversion and downconversion emission of differently sized and surface functionalized lanthanide-doped nanoparticles
There is an increasing interest in optical reporters like semiconductor and lanthanide-based nanocrystals with emission > 800 nm and recently also > 1000 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, and safety barcodes. Mandatory for the comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of reporters for the short wavelength infrared (SWIR) region are reliable and quantitative photoluminescence measurements in this challenging wavelength region. This is of special relevance for nanocrystalline emitters like semiconductor quantum dots and rods as well as for upconversion and downconversion nanocrystals, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control accomplishable quantum yields and hence, signal sizes and detection sensitivities from the reporter side. Such measurements are currently hampered by the lack of suitable methods and standards for instrument calibration and validation as well as by the lack of quantum yield standards with emission > 800 nm and especially > 1000 nm.
In this respect, we present the design of integrating sphere setups for absolute and excitation power densitydependent measurements of emission spectra and quantum yields in the wavelength region of 650 to 1650 nm
including calibration strategies and first candidates for potential fluorescence standards. Subsequently, the photoluminescence properties of different types of nanocrystals are presented and discussed including absolute photoluminescence measurements of upconversion and down conversion emission in different solvents.
There is an increasing interest in molecular and nanoscale with emission > 800 nm and recently also > 1000 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, bioimaging, and safety barcodes. Mandatory for the comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of reporters for the short wavelength infrared (SWIR) Region are reliable and quantitative photoluminescence measurements in this challenging wavelength region. This is of special relevance for nanocrystalline emitters like semiconductor quantum dots and rods as well as lanthanide-based upconversion and downconversion nanocrystals, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control accomplishable photoluminescence quantum yields and hence, signal sizes and detection sensitivities from the reporter side. Such measurements are currently hampered by the lack of suitable methods and standards for instrument calibration and validation and quantum yield standards with emission > 800 nm and especially > 1000 nm.
In this respect, we present the design of integrating sphere setups for absolute and excitation power density-dependent measurements of emission spectra and photoluminescence quantum yields in the wavelength Region of 650 to 1650 nm including calibration strategies and first candidates for potential fluorescence standards.
Subsequently, the photoluminescence properties of different types of nanocrystals are presented including the upconversion and downconversion emission of differently sized and surface functionalized lanthanide-doped nanoparticles and photoluminescence quenching effects are quantified.
Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) offer new strategies for luminescence-based sensing and imaging. One of the best studied materials are ..-NaYF4 UCNPs doped with 20 % Yb3+ and 2 % Er3+, which efficiently convert 976 nm light to photons emitted at 540 nm, 655 nm, and 845 nm, respectively, reveal long luminescence lifetimes (> 100 µs), are photostable and chemically inert. Their upconversion (UC) luminescence (UCL) properties are, however, strongly influenced by particle size, surface chemistry, and microenvironment. In addition, the multiphotonic absorption processes responsible for UCL render UCL excitation power density (..) dependent. This makes quantitative UCL measurements as well as the determination of UC quantum yields (.UC) very challenging.
The rational design of brighter UCNPs particle architectures and the interest in identifying optimum particle architectures for FRET-based sensing and imaging schemes, which often rely on core-only UCNPs to minimize donor-acceptor distances, encouraged us to assess the influence of particle size and P on UCL. Here, we present the photophysical properties of a series of hexagonal NaYF4 UCNPs with sizes from 10 to 43 nm with different surface ligands dispersed in organic solvents and water studied by steady state and time-resolved fluorometry as well as quantitatively by integrating sphere spectrometry with P varied over about three orders of magnitude. Our results underline the need for really quantitative luminescence studies for mechanistic insights and the potential of high P to compensate for UCL quenching due to high energy phonons and surface effects.
Mandatory for the comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of molecular and nanoscale reporters are reliable and quantitative photoluminescence measurements. This is of special relevance for all fluorescence applications in the life and material sciences. In the following, proccedures for the determination of this spectroscopic key parameter are presented including material-specific effects related to certain emitters
Comparison of fluorescence measurements performed on different fluorescence instruments, analyte quantification from fluorescence intensities as well as the determination of fluorescence quantum yields require instrument calibration and consideration of the wavelength-dependent instrument-specific quantities spectral photon flux reaching the sample and spectral responsivity. Here, we present guidelines and recommendations for the qualification of fluorescence instruments and introduce suitable chromophore-based reference materials. Moreover, the design concepts of the different BAM fluorescence standards are discussed.
Semiconductor nanocrystals with a spherical (QDs) core and a spherical or a rod-shaped Shell, u.a., so-called Quantum dot-Quantum rods (QDQRs) are increasingly used as fluorescent Reporters or optically active components in the life and material science, e.g., in solid state lightening including Plasma Displays. (1,2) Morever, there is an increasing interest in materials with emission >800 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, and safety barcodes. Prerequisites for the mechanistic understanding of nonradiativ decay channels needed for the rational design of improved nanomaterials and the comparison of material Performance are reliable fluorescence measurements and validated methods for the assessment of their surface chemistry. (3,4) The latter is of particular importance for nanocrystalline Emitters, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control photoluminescence properties. (5) Here, we present results from systematic spectroscopic studies including absolutely measured photolumunescence Quantum yields of different vissible and NIR emisisve QD and QDQRs Systems of varying particle architecture size and surface chemistries in Dispersion and embedded in salt crystals. (6,7)
Photoluminescence techniques are amongst the most widely used Tools in the life sciences, with new and exciting applications in medical diagnostics and molecular Imaging continuously emerging. Advantages include their comparative ease of use, unique sensitivity, non-invasive character, and potential for Multiplexing, remote sensing, and miniaturization. General drawbacks are, however, signals, that contain unwanted wavelength- and polarization contributions from Instrument-dependent effects, which are also time-dependent due to aging of Instrument-components, and difficulties to measure absolute flourescence entensities. Moreover, scattering Systems require Special measurement geometries and the interest in new optical Reporters with Emission > 1000 nm strategies for reliable measurements in the second diagnostic for the comparison of material Performance and the rational designg of new flourophores with improved properties.
Here, we present strategies to versatile method-adaptable liquid and solid flourescence Standards for different flourescence paramters including traceable Instrument calibration procedures and the design of integrating spere setups for the absolute measurements of emission spectra and Quantum yields in the wavelength Region of 350 to 1600 nm. Examples are multi-Emitter glasses, spectral flourescence Standards, and quantum yield Standards for the UV/vis/NIR.
The quantum yield is a critically important parameter in the development of lanthanide-based upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) for use as novel contrast agents in biological imaging and optical reporters in assays. The present work focuses on the influence of the beam Profile in measuring the quantum yield (f) of nonscattering dispersions of nonlinear upconverting probes, by establishing a relation between f and excitation light power density from a rate equation analysis. A resulting 60% correction in the measured f due to the beam profile utilized for excitation underlines the significance of the beam profile in such measurements, and its impact when comparing results from different Setups and groups across the world.
Lanthanide-doped photon-upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been in the focus of many research activities in the material and life sciences over the last 15 years because of their potential to convert light between different spectral regions and their unique photophysical properties. In order to fully exploit the application potential of these fascinating nanomaterials, a number of challenges has to be overcome such as the low brightness particularly of small UCNPs and the reliable quantification of the excitation power density (P)-dependent upconversion luminescence (UCL). Here, the need and requirements on the characterization of the optical properties of UCNPs are discussed with special focus on the reliabiliy and comparability of relative and quantitative luminescence measurements and prerequisites for their standardization.
Lanthanide doped photon upconverting nanophosphors (UCNPs) have the unique capability to produce narrow band, multi-color emission in the UV/vis/NIR upon multiphotonic absorption of infrared light, which makes them promising reporters for diagnostic, bioanalytical, and biological applications. This minimizes background signals, which normally occur due to autofluorescence from auxochromes, in biological matrices and enables deep penetration depths in biological applications. Moreover, UCNPs show long luminescence lifetimes in the μs range favorable for time gated emission in conjunction with a high photostability and chemical inertness and they do not blink. One of the most efficient upconversion (UC) phosphors for conversion of 976 nm to 655 nm and 545 nm light presents the hexagonal NaYF4-host crystal doped with 20 % Yb3+ used as sensitizer to absorb infrared light and 2 % Er3+ acting as activator mainly responsible for light emission. The high transparency in the relevant spectral windows of this host together with its low phonon frequencies ensure relatively high luminescence efficiencies.
Although UCNPs are ideal candidates for many chemical and biological sensing and imaging applications, compared to other well-known chromophores like organic dyes or QDs, they suffer from a comparatively low brightness due to the low absorption cross sections of the parity forbidden f-f-transitions and low photoluminescence quantum yields (QYUC) particularly in the case of small nanoparticles with sizes of < 50 nm. The rational design of more efficient UCNPs requires an improved understanding of the nonradiative decay pathways in these materials that are influenced by particle architecture including dopant ion concentration and homogeneity of dopant distribution within UCNPs, size/surface-to-volume ratio, surface chemistry, and microenvironment. A promising approach to overcome the low efficiency of UCNPs is to use plasmonic interactions between a noble metal (Ag or Au) structure in the proximity of UCNPs and the incident light. This interaction leads to a modification of the spectroscopic properties due
to local field enhancements and can involve an increase of the photoluminescence. In this respect, we study the interactions of UCNPs with metal structures (clusters and shells) by varying shape and size. Here, first results derived from integrating sphere spectroscopy and time-resolved fluorescence measurements are presented.
At the core of luminescence color and lifetime tuning of rare earth doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) is the understanding of the impact of the particle architecture for commonly used sensitizer (S) and activator (A) ions. In this respect, we present here a series of core@shell NaYF4 UCNPs doped with Yb3+ and Ho3+ ions, where the same dopant concentrations were distributed in different particle architectures following the scheme: YbHo core and YbHo@..., …@YbHo, Yb@Ho, Ho@Yb, YbHo@Yb, and Yb@YbHo core-shell NPs. As revealed by quantitative steady state and time-resolved luminescence studies, the relative spatial distribution of the A and S ions in the UCNPs and their protection from surface quenching has critical impact on their luminescent characteristics. Interestingly, although the increased amount of Yb3+ ions boosts UCNP performance by increasing the absorption, the Yb3+ ions can also dissipate the energy stored in the material through energy migration to surface, thereby reducing the overall energy transfer efficiency to the activator ions.
Functional Nanomaterials with VIS/NIR Emission-Spectroscopic Properties And Surface Group Analysis
(2017)
Optical-spectroscopic methods for the quantitative characterization of the optical properties of different types of vis/NIR-emissive nanomaterials like semiconductor quantum dots and upconversion nanocrystals will be presented and their relevance for the mechanistic understanding of nonradiative decay channels and the rational design of new nanomaterials will be underpinned. In this respect, also validation concepts for such measurements and absolute fluorometry will be introduced. In addition, the potential of optical spectroscopy for surface group and ligand analysis surface chemistry will be demonstrated exemplarily for semiconductor quantum dots.
Photoluminescence techniques are amongst the most widely used tools in the life sciences, with new and exciting applications in medical diagnostics and molecular imaging continuously emerging. Advantages include their comparative ease of use, unique sensitivity, non-invasive character, and potential for multiplexing, remote sensing, and miniaturization. General drawbacks are, however, signals, that contain unwanted wavelength- and polarization contributions from instrument-dependent effects, which are also time-dependent due to aging of instrument-components, and difficulties to measure absolute fluorescence intensities. Moreover, scattering systems require special measurement geometries and the interest in new optical reporters with emission > 1000 nm strategies for reliable measurements in the second diagnostic for the comparison of material performance and the rational design of new fluorophores with improved properties.
Here, we present strategies to versatile method-adaptable liquid and solid fluorescence standards for different fluorescence parameters including traceable instrument calibration procedures and the design of integrating sphere setups for the absolute measurement of emission spectra and quantum yields in the wavelength region of 350 to 1600 nm. Examples are multi-emitter glasses, spectral fluorescence standards, and quantum yield standards for the UV/vis/NIR
Nanocrystalline fluorophores like semiconductor quantum dots and rods and recently also lanthanide-based upconversion phosphors with emission in the visible (vis), near-infrared (NIR), and IR (infrared) region are increasingly being used in bioimaging studies and fluorescence assays as well as in photovoltaics and solid state lighting. The assessment and comparison of material performance as well as the development of rational design strategies for improved systems require spectroscopic tools, which enable the determination of the signal-relevant optical properties like photoluminescence quantum yields and brightness values. In the case of nonlinear fluorescence as shown by upconversion materials, such measurements must be also performed as function of excitation power density. In this work, we report on methods for the absolute determination of the photoluminescence quantum yield and brightness of fluorescent particles in dispersion and as powders based on integrating sphere spectroscopy and underline the importance of such measurements for the understanding of the photophysics of such nanocrystals.
There is an increasing interest in optical reporters like semiconductor quantum dots and upconversion nanophosphors with emission > 1000 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, and safety barcodes and hence, in reliable fluorescence measurements in this wavelength region, e.g., for the comparison of material performance and the rational design of new nanomaterials with improved properties. Here, we present the design of an integrating sphere setup for the absolute measurement of emission spectra and quantum yields in the wavelength region of 650 to 1600 nm and its calibration as well as examples for potential fluorescence standards from different reporter classes for the control of the reliability of such measurements.
The surface chemistry / functionalization of nanomaterials and microparticles largely controls the stability of these materials as well as their solubility and subsequent biofunctionalization and their interactions with biological systems. Moreover, in the case of some nanomaterials like semiconductor quantum dots or lanthanide-based upconversion nanocrystals, the ligand shell strongly affects their optical properties, e.g., via passivation of surface states and traps that favor luminescence quenching or the protection of surface atoms from quenching water molecules. This renders analytical methods for the quantification of surface groups like functionalities very important. Targets of broad interest are here amino, carboxyl, alkine and maleimide groups used for common bioconjugation reactions and typical ligands like thiols and polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules of varying length, used for the tuning of material hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, minimization of unspecific interactions, prevention of biofouling, and enhancement of blood circulation times as well as surface-bound biomolecules like streptavidin or other biomolecules relevant e.g., for diagnostic assays. Here, we focus on simple optical methods relying on standard laboratory instrumentation, validated by method comparison and/or mass balances and present examples for their use for the characterization of different types of nanomaterials and microparticles.
Luminescence-based detection methods, ranging from fluorescence spectroscopy for photophysical and mechanistic studies over sensing applications, chromatographic separation techniques and the microarray technology with fluorescence detection to fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, single molecule spectroscopy, and molecular imaging to integrating sphere spectroscopy, are among the most widely used methods in the life and material sciences. This is due to e.g., their unique sensitivity enabling the detection of single molecules, potential for multiplexing, ease of combination with spatial resolution, and suitability for remote sensing. Many of these advantages are closely linked to the choice of suitable molecular and nanoscale fluorescent reporters, typically required for signal generation. This includes organic dyes without and with sensor function, fluorophore-encoded polymeric and silica nanoparticles as well as nanocrystalline systems like semiconductor quantum dots and upconversion phosphors, emitting in the visible (vis), near-infrared (NIR), and IR (infrared). Current challenges present the environment sensitivity of most fluorophores, rendering fluorescence spectra, measured intensities/fluorescence quantum yields, and fluorescence decay kinetics matrix-dependent, and instrument-specific distortions of measured fluorescence signals that need to be considered for quantification and comparability of data, particularly fluorescence spectra.
Here, current applications of luminescence-based methods and different types of reporters will be presented. In this context, suitable spectroscopic tools for the characteri-zation of the optical properties of fluorescent reporters and fluorophore-encoded microparticles, analytical tools for the determination of the surface chemistry of different types of particles, and different multiplexing strategies will be discussed.
Fluorescent particles like nm- and m-sized polymeric beads doped or labeled with different types of fluorophores and nanocrystalline systems like quantum dots and upconversion phosphors emitting in the visible (vis), near-infrared (NIR), and IR (infrared) region are of increasing importance as fluorescent reporters for bioanalysis and medical diagnostics. The assessment and comparison of material performance and the development of rational design strategies for improved systems requires suitable spectroscopic tools for the determination of signal-relevant optical properties and analytical tools for the determination of the number of surface groups, ligands, biomolecules and /or fluorophores per bead. In this respect, suitable spectroscopic tools for the characterization of the optical properties of such materials like photoluminescence quantum yields and brightness values and the determination of their surface chemistry are introduced. This includes integrating sphere setups for absolute measurements of fluorescence quantum yields of liquid and solid, transparent and scattering materials in the wavelength region of 350 nm to 1600 nm at varying excitation power densities for the study of multi-photon processes and simple optical assays, validated by comparison with established analytical techniques relying on different detection principles. Here, different examples for the optical and analytical characterization of different types of nanoscale reporters are presented.
There is an increasing interest in optical reporters like semiconductor quantum dots and upconversion nanocrystals with emission > 800 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, and safety barcodes. Prerequisites for the comparison of material performance, the mechanistic understanding of nonradiative decay channels, and the rational design of new nanomaterials with improved properties are reliable fluorescence measurements and validated methods for the assessment of their surface chemistry. The latter is of special relevance for nanocrystalline emitters, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control accomplishable photoluminescence quantum yields and hence, signal sizes and detection sensitivities from the reporter side. Here, we present the design of integrating sphere setups for the excitation power density-dependent absolute measurement of emission spectra and photoluminescence quantum yields in the wavelength region of 350 to 1600 nm and results from spectroscopic studies of semiconductor quantum dots and upconversion nanocrystals of different size and surface chemistries in various environments. Subsequently, examples for simple approaches to surface group and ligand analysis are presented.