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A Facile Approach to Fabrication of Hexagonal‐Phase NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ , Er 3+ Hollow Nanospheres: Formation Mechanism and Upconversion Luminescence
Author(s) -
Zhao Junwei,
Liu Xiaomin,
Cui Di,
Sun Yajuan,
Yu Yi,
Yang Yifei,
Du Chuang,
Wang Yu,
Song Kai,
Liu Kai,
Lu Shaozhe,
Kong Xianggui,
Zhang Hong
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
european journal of inorganic chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1099-0682
pISSN - 1434-1948
DOI - 10.1002/ejic.200901119
Subject(s) - ostwald ripening , luminescence , hydrothermal circulation , chemistry , photon upconversion , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , hydrothermal synthesis , phase (matter) , dissolution , desorption , adsorption , materials science , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , engineering
The hexagonal‐phase NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ , Er 3+ hollow nanospheres (HNS) have been successfully prepared for the first time by means of a hydrothermal route with the aid of polyethylenimine (PEI) as a surfactant. The nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms demonstrated the porous nature of the NaYF 4 HNS. The formation mechanism was explored based on the effects of the reaction parameters. The NaYF 4 solid spheres underwent a dissolution‐recrystallisation transformation and a hollowing process when the hydrothermal reaction time was prolonged. The localised Ostwald ripening mechanism was proposed to account for the formation of NaYF 4 HNS, in which loose aggregations were found to be crucial. The upconversion luminescence of NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ , Er 3+ HNS was also investigated. It is expected that these NaYF 4 HNS might have potential in applications as building blocks for biolabels and drug‐delivery.