Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology (한국결정성장학회지)

The Korea Association of Crystal Growth (한국결정성장학회)
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Synthesis and characterization of highly luminescent upconversion nanoparticles

공동침전법 기반 고발광 상향변환 나노입자의 합성법 및 특성 분석

  • Sung Woo Jang (Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Hanyang University) ;
  • Won Bin Im (Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Hanyang University)
  • 장성우 (한양대학교 신소재공학과) ;
  • 임원빈 (한양대학교 신소재공학과)
  • Received : 2024.09.09
  • Accepted : 2024.09.30
  • Published : 2024.10.31
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Abstract

Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are capable of converting low energy near-infrared photons into relatively high energy visible and ultraviolet photon. Their unique optical properties have a broad range of applications such as volumetric display, security labelling and deep-tissue imaging. Herein, the optically active hexagonal phased NaYF4:Nd3+, Yb3+@NaYF4:Yb3+, Tm3+ core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized via facile co-precipitation method which can show upconversion luminescence upon 745 nm laser excitation. This is accomplished by taking advantages of the large absorption cross-section of Nd3+ ions between 720 to 760 nm plus efficient spatial energy transfer and migration which starts from Nd3+ ions to Yb3+ ions and Tm3+ ions. Also, the formation of inert NaYF4 shell significantly enhance the upconversion efficiency. The core-shell-shell UCNPs were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), absorbance, and photoluminescence spectra.

란타넘족이 도핑된 상향변환 나노입자(UCNPs)는 저에너지 근적외선 광자를 상대적으로 높은 에너지 가시광선 및 자외선 광자로 변환할 수 있다. 이들의 고유한 광학적 특성은 입체 디스플레이, 보안 라벨링 및 심층 조직 이미징과 같은 광범위한 응용 분야를 가지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 NaYF4를 모체로 다양한 란타넘족 원소(Nd, Yb, Y, Tm)을 활용하여 용이한 용액공정 방법인 공동침전법으로 상향변환 나노입자를 성공적으로 합성하였다. 특히, NaYF4:Nd3+, Yb3+@NaYF4:Yb3+, Tm3+ 코어-쉘 나노입자를 합성하였고, 해당 나노입자는 745 nm 레이저 여기 하에서 상향변환 발광을 나타내었다. 이는 720~760 nm 사이의 Nd3+ 이온의 큰 흡수 단면과 Nd3+ 이온들에서 Yb3+ 이온들 및 Tm3+이온들으로의 효율적인 에너지 전달과 이동을 통해 이루어진다. 또한, 비활성 NaYF4 쉘의 형성은 상향변환 효율을 크게 향상시킨다. 본 연구진은 합성한 코어-쉘-쉘 UCNPs을 X선 회절(XRD) 패턴과 주사 전자 현미경(SEM), 투과 전자 현미경(TEM)을 통해 구조 분석을 진행하였고, 흡광도 및 광발광 스펙트럼을 통해 광학적 특성을 분석하였다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) grant funded by the Korean Government (MOTIE) (P0017012, Human Resource Development Program for Industrial Innovation).

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