Multicolor tuning towards single red-emission band of upconversion nanoparticles for tunable optical component and optical/x-ray imaging agents via Ce(3+) doping.
A simple strategy of Ce(3+) doping is proposed to realize multicolor tuning and predominant red emission in BaLnF5:Yb(3+)/Ho(3+) (Ln(3+) = Gd(3+), Y(3+), Yb(3+)) systems. A tunable upconversion (UC) multicolor output from green/yellow to red can be readily achieved in a fixed Yb(3+)/Ho(3+) composition by doping Ce(3+), providing an effective route for multicolor tuning widely used for various optical components. Moreover, compared with Ce(3+)-free UC nanoparticles (UCNPs), a remarkable enhancement of the red-to-green (R/G) ratio is observed by doping 30% Ce(3+), arising from the two largely promoted cross-relaxation (CR) processes between Ce(3+) and Ho(3+). UCNPs with pure red emission are selected as in vivo UC bioimaging agents, demonstrating the merits of deep penetration depth, the absence of autofluorescence and high contrast in small animal bioimaging. Moreover, such fluorescence imaging nanoprobes can also be used as contrast agents for three-dimensional (3D) x-ray bioimaging by taking advantage of the high K-edge values and x-ray absorption coefficients of Ba(2+), Gd(3+), and Ce(3+) in our designed nanoprobes. Thus, the simultaneous realization of multicolor output, highly enhanced R/G ratio, and predominant red emission makes the Ce(3+)-doped UCNPs very useful for widespread applications in optical components and bioimaging.
College of Physics and Information Science and Key Laboratory of Low-dimensional Quantum Structures and Quantum Control of the Ministry of Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, Hunan, People's Republic of China. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Low-dimensional Materials and Application Technology (Ministry of Education), Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, People's Republic of China.
Zhigao
Z
Yi
Tianmei
T
Zeng
Yaru
Y
Xu
Wei
W
Lu
Chao
C
Qian
Hongrong
H
Liu
Songjun
S
Zeng
Jianhua
J
Hao
D000818:Animals; D002563:Cerium / Q000737:chemistry*; D003116:Color; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000737:chemistry; D006695:Holmium / Q000737:chemistry; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D055096:Optical Devices; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014965:X-Rays; D015018:Ytterbium / Q000737:chemistry; D015019:Yttrium / Q000737:chemistry
D002563:Cerium; D015019:Yttrium; D005682:Gadolinium; D015018:Ytterbium; D006695:Holmium