Lengthening the Lifetime of Common Emissive Probes to Microseconds by a Jigsaw‐Like Construction of NIR‐Responsive Nanohybrids

Breaking the Nd3+-sensitized upconversion nanoparticles myth about the need of onion-layered structures

Up to now, most strategies to build efficient 800 nm-light responsive upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have included onion-layered structures, in which Nd3+ is confined within the inorganic crystal structure of at least one layer. We report here an easy room-temperature modular preparation of core-shell UCNPs consisting of NaYF4:Yb,Er(Tm)/NaYF4 (UCCS) with Nd3+ anchored at the organic capping by using cucurbituril[7] (CB[7]) as an adhesive. Strikingly, excitation at 800 nm effectively triggers the upconversion emission of UCCS@CB[7]@Nd nanohybrids.

NIR laser scanning microscopy for photophysical characterization of upconversion nanoparticles and nanohybrids

Photophysical characterization of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and nanohybrids (UCNHs) is more challenging than that of down-conversion nanomaterials. Moreover, it is still difficult to gain knowledge about the homogeneity of the sample and colocalization of emissive chromophores and nanoparticles in nanohybrids. Near infrared laser scanning microscopy (NIR-LSM) is a well-known and useful imaging technique, which enables excitation in the NIR region and has been extensively applied to optical fluorescence imaging of organic fluorophores and nanomaterials, such as quantum dots, which exhibit a short-lived emission. NIR-LSM has recently been used to determine the empirical emission life…

Polysulfonate Cappings on Upconversion Nanoparticles Prevent Their Disintegration in Water and Provide Superior Stability in a Highly Acidic Medium

The stability of organic cappings on hexagonal NaYF4:Ln3+ upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) is crucial for their luminescence efficiency in aqueous solutions. The capping removal quickens as the acidity of the medium increases. We demonstrate here that polysulfonates, namely poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonate) (PAMPS) and poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS), remain anchored to the surface of NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+/Tm3 UCNPs even at a pH as low as 2 due to strong acidity of the sulfonate anchoring groups (pKa of ca. −3). Bare UCNPs progressively disintegrate into their compositional F–, Na+, Y3+, and Ln3+ ions. Their disintegration is particularly worrying in highly diluted dispersio…

Upconversion nanoparticles with a strong acid-resistant capping

Water-dispersible upconversion nanoparticles (β-NaYF:Yb,Er, UCNP) coated with a thin shell of a biocompatible copolymer comprising 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulphonsulphonic acid (AMPS), which we will term COP, have been prepared by multidentate grafting. This capping is remarkably resistant to strong acidic conditions as low as pH 2. The additional functionality of the smart UCNP@COP nanosystem has been proved by its association to a well-known photosensitizer (namely, methylene blue, MB). The green-to-red emission ratio of the UC@COP@MB nanohybrid exhibits excellent linear dependence in the 7 to 2 pH range as a consequence of the release of the d…

Linear Coassembly of Upconversion and Perovskite Nanoparticles: Sensitized Upconversion Emission of Perovskites by Lanthanide‐Doped Nanoparticles

Sensitized emission of lead halide perovskite nanoparticles (LHPNPs) can be achieved by near‐infrared (NIR) excitation of nearby lanthanide‐doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) by using a low‐cost diode laser. Here, the first preparation of linear assemblies of core and core–shell NPs, as well as linear coassemblies of LHPNPs and UCNPs, within an open peapod‐like lead sulfate shell are reported. UCNPs with a NaYF4 matrix doped with ytterbium and thulium or erbium, and with an inert shell of NaYF4 in the case of core‐shell, and all‐inorganic CsPbX3 NPs (X = halide) are chosen for these studies. Interestingly, the lead sulfate shell enhances the luminescence of the core/core– shell UCNPs …