title: Molecular sensitized GdF3:Eu3+ for color tuning and highly enhanced luminescent properties.
abstract: In this work, we report on the preparation of [2,3-f]pyrazino[1,10]phenanthroline-2,3-dicarboxylic anions (PPDB(2-)) modified GdF3:Eu(3+) nanocrystals by a versatile ligand exchange approach for highly enhanced luminescent properties. The samples were carefully characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectra and photoluminescence. It is found that all GdF3:Eu(3+) nanoparticles were entirely composed of homogeneous nano-spheres with an average diameter of about 30-35 nm. After PPDB(2-) capping, GdF3:Eu(3+) nanocrystals exhibited higher color purity and shorter lifetime time, which can be well recognized as a consequence of surface structure modification and local symmetry alteration near Eu(3+) ions. High color purity and short lifetime of PPDB(2-) modified GdF3:Eu(3+) nanocrystals predict highly enhanced red luminescence, which showed the quantum efficiency of ~34%. The highly enhanced luminescent property enables its potential application as chemosensor for detection of heavy metal ions.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010021, PR China.
authors.forename: Yiguo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Junyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Chunfang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Xiaojing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Color purity; Lanthanide; Nanocrystals; Quantum efficiency