Novel rod-Y2O3:Eu3+@0.01YVO4:Eu3+ with open core/shell nanostructure and "off-and-on" fluorescent performance. Issue 83 (16th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, Nianchen; Gao, Xueshan; Lu, Guang; Zeng, Daiwen; Wan, Xia; Tie, Shaolong; Lan, Sheng
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 7:Issue 83(2017)
• Page Start: 52955
• Page End: 52961
• Publication Date: 2017-11-16
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c7ra08905h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Novel rod-Y2 O3 :Eu 3+ @0.01YVO4 :Eu 3+ with an open core/shell could be a sensitive fluorescent probe and show "off-and-on" performance. Abstract : Herein, we develop a novel sensitive fluorescent probe with an open core/shell nanostructure (OCSNS), rod-Y2 O3 :Eu 3+ @0.01YVO4 :Eu 3+, in which a YVO4 :Eu 3+ shell with a thickness of less than 5 nm partially covers an anisotropic core of rod-Y2 O3 :Eu 3+ . The photo-luminescent performance of the OCSNS is sensitive to trace ions or molecules. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) observations clearly confirm that this OCSNS has an open quantum shell of YVO4 :Eu 3+ . In contrast to closed core Y2 O3 :Eu 3+ @shell YVO4 :Eu 3+, which has only one excitation band peaking at ∼308 nm, this novel nanostructure has a wide-wavelength excitation response that can be decomposed into two components centered at ∼254 and ∼280 nm, which stem from open core rod-Y2 O3 :Eu 3+ and the YVO4 :Eu 3+ quantum shell, respectively. As expected, this OCSNS shows "off-and-on" fluorescence properties due to the strong surface effect of this open quantum shell: it is "off" when detecting trace Cu(ii ) ions and "on" when detecting trace amino acids, at levels as low as 10 −8 mol L −1 . Hence, rod-Y2 O3 :Eu 3+ @0.01YVO4 :Eu 3+ could be an excellent candidate for sensitive fluorescent probes, showing similar performance to most quantum dots for the detection of ions and molecules. Moreover, it is both easier to fabricate and more stable than quantum dots.