title: Enhanced visible and near infrared emissions via Ce(3+) to Ln(3+) energy transfer in Ln(3+)-doped CeF3 nanocrystals (Ln = Nd and Sm).
abstract: We report the enhancement of both visible and near infrared (NIR) emissions from Nd(3+) ions via Ce(3+) sensitization in colloidal nanocrystals for the first time. This is achieved in citrate capped Nd(3+)-doped CeF3 nanocrystals under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (λex = 282 nm). The lasing transition ((4)F3/2 → (4)I11/2) at 1064 nm from Nd(3+)-doped CeF3 nanocrystals has much higher emission intensity via Ce(3+) ion sensitization compared to the direct excitation of Nd(3+) ions. The nanocrystals were prepared using a simple microwave irradiation route. Moreover, the study has been extended to Sm(3+)-doped CeF3 nanocrystals which show strong characteristic emissions of Sm(3+) ions via energy transfer from Ce(3+) ions. The energy transfer mechanism from Ce(3+) to Nd(3+) and Sm(3+) ions is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741252, India. mvenkataramanan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Tuhin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Samanta
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741252, India. mvenkataramanan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Shyam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741252, India. mvenkataramanan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Venkata N K B
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Adusumalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741252, India. mvenkataramanan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Athma E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Praveen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741252, India. mvenkataramanan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Venkataramanan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mahalingam