Influence of surface coating on structural, morphological and optical properties of upconversion-luminescent LaF3:Yb/Er nanoparticles

LaF3:Yb/Er (core), LaF3:Yb/Er@ LaF3 (core/shell) and LaF3:Yb/Er@ LaF3@SiO2 (core/shell/SiO2) nanoparticles were synthesized using citric-acid-based complexation process. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, optical absorption, band-gap energy (E-g), Fourier transform infrared and upconversion emission spectroscopy were employed to investigate the structural, morphological and optical properties of the synthesized core and core/shell/SiO2 nanoparticles. These core/shell/SiO2 nanoparticles can be well dispersed in aqueous solvents to form clear colloidal solution. The optical band-gap energy was decreased after shell formation due to increase in the crystalline size. The growth of an inactive and porous silica layers simultaneously on the surface of luminescent core-nanoparticles resulting an increase in average crystalline size of the nanoparticles. As-prepared inert shell-coated core/shell nanoparticles show intensive upconversion-luminescence as compared to the seed-core and silica-surface-modified core/shell/SiO2 nanoparticles because luminescent ions (Yb3+ and Er3+) ions located at the particle surface were protected from the non-radiative decay arising from surface dangling bonds and capping agent. However, our study revealed that there was only a slight reduction in upconversion efficiency for the silica-modified core/shell nanoparticles, indicating that upconversion properties of the upconversion nanoparticles are largely preserved in the core/shell/SiO2 nanoparticles. Absorption and upconversion-luminescence properties were examined for future application in the development of optical devices as well as optical bioprobes.