title: Dual-emitting nanocomposites derived from rare-earth compound nanotubes for ratiometric fluorescence sensing applications.
abstract: A new class of ratiometric fluorescence sensors composed of rare-earth (RE) compound nanotubes is described. Polyethylenimine-coated yttrium hydroxide fluoride nanotubes (YHF NTs) that were synthesized hydrothermally exhibit highly efficient fluorescence when doped with RE ions. The polyethylenimine on the NTs facilitates the incorporation of phosphors such as quantum dots or organic dyes onto the NT surface to produce dual-emitting nanocomposites which are excellent ratiometric fluorescence sensors. The phosphor layer and underlying tubes in the nanocomposites act as the indicator and reference probes, respectively. This ratiometric fluorescence method which can be applied to the detection of heavy metals in solutions, temperature sensing, and pH sensing boasts high sensitivity and selectivity as well as better accuracy than traditional intensity-based fluorescence methods.
authors: Department of Physics, Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P R China.
authors: Tian-Ying
authors: TY
authors: Sun
authors: Da-Quan
authors: DQ
authors: Zhang
authors: Xue-Feng
authors: XF
authors: Yu
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Xiang
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Luo
authors: Jia-Hong
authors: JH
authors: Wang
authors: Guo-Long
authors: GL
authors: Tan
authors: Qu-Quan
authors: QQ
authors: Wang
authors: Paul K
authors: PK
authors: Chu
mesh_terms: D008422:Materials Testing; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008674:Metals, Rare Earth