Depth-profiling of Yb3+ sensitizer ions in NaYF4 upconversion nanoparticles

Authors

Xiaoxue Xu, Macquarie University, University of Technology
Christian Clarke, University of Technology
Chenshuo Ma, Macquarie University
Gilberto Casillas, University of WollongongFollow
Minakshi Das, Macquarie University
Ming Guan, University of Technology
Deming Liu, University of Technology, Macquarie University
Li Wang, University of WollongongFollow
Anton Tadich, Australian Synchrotron
Yi Du, University of WollongongFollow
Cuong Ton-That, University of Technology
Dayong Jin, University of TechnologyFollow

RIS ID

114935

Publication Details

Xu, X., Clarke, C., Ma, C., Casillas, G., Das, M., Guan, M., Liu, D., Wang, L., Tadich, A., Du, Y., Ton-That, C. & Jin, D. (2017). Depth-profiling of Yb3+ sensitizer ions in NaYF4 upconversion nanoparticles. Nanoscale, 9 (23), 7719-7726.

Abstract

Enhancing the efficiency of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and therefore their brightness is the critical goal for this emerging material to meet growing demands in many potential applications including sensing, imaging, solar energy conversion and photonics. The distribution of the photon sensitizer and activator ions that form a network of energy transfer systems within each single UCNP is vital for understanding and optimizing their optical properties. Here we employ synchrotron-based X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) to characterize the depth distribution of Yb3+ sensitizer ions in host NaYF4 nanoparticles and systematically correlate the structure with the optical properties for a range of UCNPs with different sizes and doping concentrations. We find a radial gradient distribution of Yb3+ from the core to the surface of the NaYF4 nanoparticles, regardless of their size or the sensitizer's concentration. Energy dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) was also used to further confirm the distribution of the sensitizer ions in the host matrix. These results have profound implications for the upconversion optical property variations.