Precisely Tailoring Upconversion Dynamics via Energy Migration in Core–Shell Nanostructures. Issue 12 (14th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zuo, Jing; Sun, Dapeng; Tu, Langping; Wu, Yanni; Cao, Yinghui; Xue, Bin; Zhang, Youlin; Chang, Yulei; Liu, Xiaomin; Kong, Xianggui; Buma, Wybren Jan; Meijer, Evert Jan; Zhang, Hong
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 57:Issue 12(2018)
• Page Start: 3054
• Page End: 3058
• Publication Date: 2018-02-14
• Subjects: core–shell nanostructures -- energy migration -- lanthanides -- luminescence dynamics -- Monte Carlo simulation -- upconversion nanocrystals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201711606
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: Upconversion emission dynamics have long been believed to be determined by the activator and its interaction with neighboring sensitizers. Herein this assumption is, however, shown to be invalid for nanostructures. We demonstrate that excitation energy migration greatly affects upconversion emission dynamics. "Dopant ions' spatial separation" nanostructures are designed as model systems and the intimate link between the random nature of energy migration and upconversion emission time behavior is unraveled by theoretical modelling and confirmed spectroscopically. Based on this new fundamental insight, we have successfully realized fine control of upconversion emission time behavior (either rise or decay process) by tuning the energy migration paths in various specifically designed nanostructures. This result is significant for applications of this type of materials in super resolution spectroscopy, high‐density data storage, anti‐counterfeiting, and biological imaging. Abstract : An upward path : Precisely tailored dynamics of upconversion (UC) emission are achieved via controlling the energy migration paths in core–shell nanostructures. The control comes through preparing structures in which the dopant ions are spatially separated.