{"title":"Comparison of YAG:Nd3+-Yb3+ nanothermometers synthesized by Pechini and solvothermal methods","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jlumin.2024.120947","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Luminescence intensity ratio-based nanothermometry is a widely studied thermal sensing technique in the literature. Regarding biological purposes, it is essential to have thermal probes that are efficient in this type of environment. Thermal bioprobes demand highly crystallized nanocrystals, commonly smaller than 100 nm, with luminescence emissions in the near-infrared range that are not significantly absorbed by biological tissues. Several nanomaterials that have been studied for nanothermometry do not meet the requirements for this type of applications. Accordingly, researches are needed to develop suitable and reliable nanothermometers for thermal sensing. Therefore, our goal was to investigate the impact of Nd<sup>3+</sup>-Yb<sup>3+</sup> co-doping on the thermometric performance of YAG matrix, a promising crystal because it presents a host structure favoring the insertion of lanthanide ions, which provide its luminescent features. In order to achieve this purpose, we first synthesized YAG:Nd<sup>3+</sup>-Yb<sup>3+</sup> nanocrystals through a generic route - called modified Pechini method - to screen their thermal properties. Our results show that YAG:Nd<sup>3+</sup>-Yb<sup>3+</sup> nanocrystals have the potential to work in <em>vivo</em> environments. The nanothermometers investigated here are excited in the first biological window (BW-I) at 805 nm with luminescence emissions within the BW-II, at 1030.5 and 1064 nm. By co-doping the YAG matrix with different Nd<sup>3+</sup>-Yb<sup>3+</sup> concentrations, we studied the energy transfer process between the dopant ions and their impact on thermometry efficiency. By the efficient coupling of the Nd<sup>3+</sup>-Yb<sup>3+</sup> pair, we improved the <span><math><mrow><msub><mi>S</mi><mi>r</mi></msub></mrow></math></span> value by a factor of 3 of YAG compounds up to 0.6 %.K<sup>−1</sup>. We then synthesized YAG:Nd<sup>3+</sup>-Yb<sup>3+</sup> nanocrystals using a second type of synthesis, by solvothermal means, in order to obtain individual nanocrystals, well dispersed in aqueous solutions, and to adapt their morphology and size for biological purposes. Therefore, we compared the structural and luminescence properties and thermometry efficiencies of YAG:Nd<sup>3+</sup>-Yb<sup>3+</sup> nanocrystals obtained through two distinct processes and showed that the nanothermometry properties are not affected by the synthesis method.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16159,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Luminescence","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Luminescence","FirstCategoryId":"101","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022231324005118","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"OPTICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Luminescence intensity ratio-based nanothermometry is a widely studied thermal sensing technique in the literature. Regarding biological purposes, it is essential to have thermal probes that are efficient in this type of environment. Thermal bioprobes demand highly crystallized nanocrystals, commonly smaller than 100 nm, with luminescence emissions in the near-infrared range that are not significantly absorbed by biological tissues. Several nanomaterials that have been studied for nanothermometry do not meet the requirements for this type of applications. Accordingly, researches are needed to develop suitable and reliable nanothermometers for thermal sensing. Therefore, our goal was to investigate the impact of Nd3+-Yb3+ co-doping on the thermometric performance of YAG matrix, a promising crystal because it presents a host structure favoring the insertion of lanthanide ions, which provide its luminescent features. In order to achieve this purpose, we first synthesized YAG:Nd3+-Yb3+ nanocrystals through a generic route - called modified Pechini method - to screen their thermal properties. Our results show that YAG:Nd3+-Yb3+ nanocrystals have the potential to work in vivo environments. The nanothermometers investigated here are excited in the first biological window (BW-I) at 805 nm with luminescence emissions within the BW-II, at 1030.5 and 1064 nm. By co-doping the YAG matrix with different Nd3+-Yb3+ concentrations, we studied the energy transfer process between the dopant ions and their impact on thermometry efficiency. By the efficient coupling of the Nd3+-Yb3+ pair, we improved the value by a factor of 3 of YAG compounds up to 0.6 %.K−1. We then synthesized YAG:Nd3+-Yb3+ nanocrystals using a second type of synthesis, by solvothermal means, in order to obtain individual nanocrystals, well dispersed in aqueous solutions, and to adapt their morphology and size for biological purposes. Therefore, we compared the structural and luminescence properties and thermometry efficiencies of YAG:Nd3+-Yb3+ nanocrystals obtained through two distinct processes and showed that the nanothermometry properties are not affected by the synthesis method.
期刊介绍:
The purpose of the Journal of Luminescence is to provide a means of communication between scientists in different disciplines who share a common interest in the electronic excited states of molecular, ionic and covalent systems, whether crystalline, amorphous, or liquid.
We invite original papers and reviews on such subjects as: exciton and polariton dynamics, dynamics of localized excited states, energy and charge transport in ordered and disordered systems, radiative and non-radiative recombination, relaxation processes, vibronic interactions in electronic excited states, photochemistry in condensed systems, excited state resonance, double resonance, spin dynamics, selective excitation spectroscopy, hole burning, coherent processes in excited states, (e.g. coherent optical transients, photon echoes, transient gratings), multiphoton processes, optical bistability, photochromism, and new techniques for the study of excited states. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. Papers in the traditional areas of optical spectroscopy (absorption, MCD, luminescence, Raman scattering) are welcome. Papers on applications (phosphors, scintillators, electro- and cathodo-luminescence, radiography, bioimaging, solar energy, energy conversion, etc.) are also welcome if they present results of scientific, rather than only technological interest. However, papers containing purely theoretical results, not related to phenomena in the excited states, as well as papers using luminescence spectroscopy to perform routine analytical chemistry or biochemistry procedures, are outside the scope of the journal. Some exceptions will be possible at the discretion of the editors.