Multifunctional hybrid silica nanoparticles based on [Mo₆Br₁₄]²⁻ phosphorescent nanosized clusters, magnetic γ-Fe₂O₃ and plasmonic gold nanoparticles.
We report on the synthesis, characterization and photophysical study of new luminescent and magnetic hybrid silica nanoparticles. Our method is based on the co-encapsulation of single maghemite γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles and luminescent molybdenum cluster units [Mo6Br(i)8Br(a)6](2-) through a water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion technique. The as-prepared core-shell [Cs2Mo6Br14-γFe2O3]@SiO2 nanoparticles (45-53 nm) possess a single magnetic core (6, 10.5 or 15 nm) and the cluster units are dispersed in the entire volume of the silica sphere. The [Cs2Mo6Br14-γFe2O3]@SiO2 nanoparticles have a perfect spherical shape with a good monodispersity and they display red and near-infrared (NIR) emission in water under UV excitation, whose intensity depends on the magnetic core size. The hybrid nanoparticles have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high annular angular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy and magnetometer SQUID analysis. Small gold nanoparticles were successfully nucleated at the surface of the hybrid silica nanoparticles in order to add plasmonic properties.
Solid State Chemistry and Materials Group, UMR CNRS 6226, University of Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes, France. Electronic address: nicolas.nerambourg@univ-lorraine.fr.
Nicolas
N
Nerambourg
Solid State Chemistry and Materials Group, UMR CNRS 6226, University of Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes, France.
Tangi
T
Aubert
Solid State Chemistry and Materials Group, UMR CNRS 6226, University of Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes, France; Solid State Chemistry and Materials Group, UMR CNRS 6226, INSA de Rennes, 20 Avenue des Buttes de Coësmes, CS 70 839, 35 708 Rennes Cedex 7, France.
Chrystelle
C
Neaime
Solid State Chemistry and Materials Group, UMR CNRS 6226, University of Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes, France. Electronic address: stephane.cordier@univ-rennes1.fr.
Stéphane
S
Cordier
Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris, CNRS - Chimie ParisTech, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France.
Michel
M
Mortier
Laboratoire de Photonique et de Nanostructures (LPN-CNRS), Route de Nozay, 91460 Marcoussis, France.
Gilles
G
Patriarche
Solid State Chemistry and Materials Group, UMR CNRS 6226, University of Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes, France. Electronic address: fabien.grasset@univ-rennes1.fr.
Fabien
F
Grasset
Luminescent nanoparticles; Magnetic nanoparticles; Metal atom clusters; Silica nanoparticles