Designing Upconversion Nanocrystals Capable of 745 nm Sensitization and 803 nm Emission for Deep-Tissue Imaging

Liangliang Liang, Xiaoji Xie, Daniel Teh Boon Loong, Angelo Homayoun All, Ling Huang, Xiaogang Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

A crystal design strategy is described that generates hexagonal-phased NaYF4:Nd/Yb@NaYF4:Yb/Tm luminescent nanocrystals with the ability to emit light at 803 nm when illuminated at 745 nm. This is accomplished by taking advantage of the large absorption cross-section of Nd3+between 720 and 760 nm plus efficient spatial energy transfer and migration through Nd3+→Yb3+→Yb3+→Tm3+. Mechanistic investigations suggest that a cascaded two-photon energy transfer upconversion process underlies the emission mechanism. This protocol enables deep-tissue imaging to be achieved while mitigating the attenuation effect associated with the visible emission and the overheating constraint imposed by conventional 980 nm excitation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)10801-10807
Number of pages7
JournalChemistry - A European Journal
Volume22
Issue number31
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 25 2016

Keywords

  • doping
  • lanthanide
  • nanocrystals
  • optical window
  • overheating effects

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Organic Chemistry

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