Open AccessPreparation of (CaY)F 2 :Tm 3+ ,Yb 3+ deposited porous TiO 2 matrix with highly near‐infrared light photocatalytic activity
Author(s) -
Zhao Xiaoyan,
Kang An,
Zhou Linxi,
Zhou Huan,
Qi Qianyu,
Wang Hongshui,
Xu Defeng,
Liang Chunyong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
micro and nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1750-0443
DOI - 10.1049/mna2.12013
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , biocompatibility , materials science , methyl orange , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , photon upconversion , photoluminescence , nuclear chemistry , luminescence , scanning electron microscope , titanium dioxide , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , chemistry , catalysis , composite material , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , metallurgy , engineering
Porous titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) matrix deposited with upconversion luminescence agent (CaY)F 2 :Tm 3+ ,Yb 3+ was sol–gel prepared using polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microspheres as sacrificing template and tetrabutyl titanate as TiO 2 precursors. The resulted photocatalysts were subsequently characterized by X‐ray diffraction, scanning microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectra (PL) etc. The photocatalytic activity and biocompatibility of TiO 2 /(CaY)F 2 :Tm 3+ ,Yb 3+ were evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) and fibroblast cytotoxicity analysis, respectively. The results revealed that (CaY)F 2 :Tm 3+ ,Yb 3+ nanoparticles were well dispersed onto the pore walls of porous TiO 2 matrix to generate a biocompatible composite. In addition, TiO 2 /(CaY)F 2 :Tm 3+ ,Yb 3+ was found to show excellent photocatalytic activity in both UV and infrared spectra, highlighted with the fact that (CaY)F 2 :Tm 3+ ,Yb 3+ nanocrystals can be excited to release UV light under near infrared light source, which can in consequence active TiO 2 . When the mass ratio of TiO 2 to (CaY)F 2 :Tm 3+ ,Yb 3+ nanocrystals is 2:1, the best photocatalytic efficiency can be achieved with most of UV light released by (CaY)F 2 :Tm 3+ ,Yb 3+ absorbed by TiO 2 to induce photo‐oxidation. The outstanding photocatalytic performance along with its biocompatibility, makes TiO 2 /(CaY)F 2 :Tm 3+ ,Yb 3+ a promising candidate in environmental and biomedical applications.