Controlled Synthesis of Core–Shell–Shell Structured Sulvanite-Based Nanocomposites with Luminescent Property

Abstract

Despite growing interest in multifunctional nanomaterials for biomedical and sensing applications, there remains a notable scarcity of hybrid nanoparticles that integrate semiconducting, fluorescent, and biocompatible components into a single, tunable platform. The sulvanite Cu₃VS₄, a ternary chalcogenide with demonstrated near-infrared absorption and photothermal conversion properties, has been relatively underexplored compared to more conventional binary chalcogenides in such hybrid constructs. In this work, core–shell–shell structured Cu₃VS₄@SiO₂@Tb/GMP nanoparticles exhibiting green luminescence have been designed and fabricated. The multistep synthesis process involved Cu₃VS₄ synthesis and pretreatment followed by the addition of the silica shell, and last by simultaneous terbium (Tb) coordination and surface modification with guanosine monophosphate. The morphology, structure, and optical properties of the nanoparticles were systematically characterized using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Structural analysis confirmed the formation of well-defined spherical nanostructures with homogeneous dual-shell architecture and an average particle diameter of 50 nm. Upon excitation at 295 nm, the nanoparticles demonstrated intense green emission attributed to the characteristic electronic transitions of the Tb³⁺ ions. Furthermore, the incorporation of GMP enhanced the fluorescence stability of the nanoparticles, making them promising candidates for applications in bioimaging, optoelectronics, or sensing. These findings suggest that the developed nanoparticles hold significant potential for diverse applications, including bioimaging, optoelectronic devices, and fluorescence-based sensing platforms.