异质结构—NaGdF4:Yb,Er纳米棒负载在金属有机框架上以调节上转换光致发光
1 Introduction
Multi-component heterostructure nanocomposites,which composed of two or more nanomaterials,can inherit the unique properties and overcome the limitation of single component [1-2]. At the same time,the multi-component heterostructure can endow many new properties,such as magnetism,light,electricity and etc. [3-6]. Photon upconversion(UC)has the ability to converting near infrared(NIR)photons into visible or ultraviolet(UV)radiation,it is a unique imaging technique that utilizes low photon energy [7-8]. The UC nanomaterials are composed of matrix doped with rare earth ions used as sensitizer and activators. And modification of luminescence can be achieved by changing the type of rare earth ions. Owing to the low photon energy,high rare-earth ion solubility and good thermal stability,the rare-earth fluorides(NaREF4)are the most effective matrix. NaGdF4 is as candidate own to lower vibrational phonon energy and matching lattice with doped ions [9-10]. Besides,the hexagonal phase NaGdF4 can improve the luminous efficiency of UC,and Gd3+ has a large energy level interval,it can also pass sensitization ion(Yb3+)and activation ion(Er3+,Tm3+ and Ho3+)achieves high-efficiency UC luminescence. Er3+ has fluorescence response of blue,green and red light,and the emission could be adjusted by tuning structure. Therefore,NaGdF4:Yb,Er has the advantages of low excitation energy,high luminous efficiency and good thermal stability,so it has potential application prospects in biological imaging,drug delivery,tumor treatment,display equipment,solar energy conversion,etc.[11-12]. However,NaGdF4:Yb,Er has a tendency to aggregate and quench,which greatly reduces its photoluminescence(PL)performance,and the oil phase system limits its application. Meanwhile,realizing the tuning of light is expected to broaden the application range of NaGdF4:Yb,Er. In order to make up for its shortcomings,many strategies had been reported,such as forming core-shell structure,tuning size or morphology and constructing the composites[13-15]. Among many methods,construction heterostructure by compounding with other materials can not only improve the stability and compatibility of NaGdF4:Yb,Er,but also tuning optical properties.
Metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)are a class of carrier materials with unprecedented chemical and structural tunability. Their synthetic controllability and structural design properties make MOFs as ideal platforms for identifying design features for advanced functional materials[16]. Meanwhile,MOFs are considered as promising energy transmission(ET)platform to achieve collaborative molecular level functions and promote efficient energy transfer due to the highly accessible and spatially discrete linkers[17]. Li et al. integrated UC nanoparticles and MOF to construct a composite photocatalyst that has adjustable photocatalytic activity[18]. Chen et al. prepared core-shell UC nanoparticle@MOF nanoprobes for luminescent/magnetic dual-mode targeted imaging[13]. In our work,MIL-101/NaGdF4:Yb,Er were prepared by the two-step method,the photocatalyst displayed higher photocurrent and better degradation ability for Rhodamine B owing to synergistic effect[14]. Those works make full use of the adsorption and good bio-compatibility of MOFs. Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks(ZIFs)is a nitrogen-containing MOFs material obtained by compounding an imidazole or purine organic ligand with a transition metal ion. In particular,ZIF-67 is a regular dodecahedral structure material containing Co2+,it has the advantages of high stability,high porosity,and large specific surface area[19]. The multiple energy levels contained in Co2+ can meet the energy exchange requirements with rare earth ions[20]. Therefore,construction heterostructure containing ZIF-67 is an effective strategy to broaden the application prospect of NaGdF4:Yb,Er while achieving light tuning.
Here in,we have prepared multi-component heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er by a stepwise synthesis method. The NaGdF4:Yb,Er nanorods were loaded on the surface of ZIF-67,which was used as a carrier. The heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er,which avoided agglomeration and quench of UC nanoparticles,display better stability. Meanwhile,the composites improved the compatibility of alcohol,so that it broke through the constraints of oil phase systems. ZIF-67 is also used as an ET platform to achieve UC PL tuning of NaGdF4:Yb,Er nanorods by energy transition. Compared with NaGdF4:Yb,Er nanorods under 980 nm laser excitation,the PL performance of heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er has converted from green light to red light that owing to the synergistic effect between individual components. The incorporation of ZIF-67 alter the PL performance of NaGdF4:Yb,Er nanorods and lead to a heterostructure with good stability,which broadens the application and promotes the progress of key technologies in the field of photon UC nanomaterials.
1 Experiments
1.1 Synthesis of NaGdF4:Yb,Er upconversion nanoparticles
In a typical preparation,1.2 g NaOH was dissolved in 2 ml deionized water and ultrasonically dispersed. After the heat released,the solution was heating and stirring in a 50 ℃ water bath. Next,8 ml alcohol and 20 ml oleic acid were added to the above solution under stirring 20 min to be a transparent solution. 1 mmol of Ln(NO3)3·6H2O(Ln:78% Gd;20% Yb;2% Er)aqueous solution were added under vigorous stirring. Then,0.8 g PVP dissolved in 3 ml of ethanol and add to above solution. Subsequently,8 ml of NaF aqueous solution(1 mol/L)was added dropwise to the solution. Keep stirring to give it had a good dispersion to form a translucent colloidal solution. Finally,the mixed solution was transferred into reaction kettle and heated at 180 ℃ for 18 h. After reaction was completed,the system was cooled to room temperature naturally. The prepared samples were separated and washed used deionized water and ethanol by centrifugation to remove oleic acid and other remnants,and was stored in cyclohexane solvent.
1.2 Synthesis of ZIF-67
0.2911g of Co(NO3)2·6H2O and 0.3284 g of 2-methylimidazole was dissolved in 25 ml of methanol and ultrasound for 10 min,respectively. Then the dissolved 2-methylimidazole solution was added dropwise to the Co(NO3)2·6H2O solution,and stirred at room temperature for 3 h. Finally,the samples were separated to remove other remnants and stored in methanol.
1.3 Synthesis of the heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er
Briefly,the prepared NaGdF4:Yb,Er nanorods and ZIF-67 were mixed together. And then some PVP was added as dispersant,the mixture were stirred at 50 ℃ for 24 h. Finally,the samples were separated and washed to remove other remnants and stored in methanol.
2 Results and discussions
As showed in
图 1. 异质结构ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er的制备流程图
Fig. 1. Illustration for the preparation of heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4: Yb, Er
The morphology of samples are characterized via transmission electron microscopy(TEM). As shown in
图 2. 异质结构ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er的形貌表征(a)NaGdF4:Yb,Er纳米棒的透射电镜图,插图是其高分辨透射电镜图,(b)ZIF-67的透射电镜图;(c)异质结构ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er的透射电镜图和它的3D模型(插图),(d)异质结构ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er的局部放大投射电镜图和高分辨透射电镜图(插图),(e)ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er的元素分布
Fig. 2. The morphological characterization of heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4: Yb, Er (a) TEM image of NaGdF4: Yb, Er nanorods, the inset is HRTEM image taken from (a) , (b) TEM image of ZIF-67, (c) TEM image of heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4: Yb, Er, the inset is 3D model of (c) , (d) The partial enlargement of (c) , the inset is HRTEM image taken from (c) , (e) EDS elemental mapping of heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4: Yb, Er.
图 3. 异质结构ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er的X射线衍射和红外谱
Fig. 3. The XRD and FT-IR spectra of heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4: Yb, Er
The UC PL properties and conversion mechanism of heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er were measured. As shown in
图 4. 异质结构ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er荧光性能的表征和对比(a)980 nm激发光下样品的上转换荧光性能,(b)样品的紫外吸收光谱,(c)样品的光致发光激发谱对比,(d)使用不同含量的NaGdF4:Yb,Er纳米棒溶液制备得到的异质结构ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er的上转换荧光性能
Fig. 4. Characterization and comparison of fluorescence properties of heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4: Yb, Er (a) UC PL spectra under 980 nm laser excitation, (b) UV-vis spectra, (c) PL emission spectra of heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4: Yb, Er, the inset is PL emission spectra of NaGdF4: Yb, Er nanorods and ZIF-67, (d) UC PL spectra of heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4: Yb, Er with different concentration of NaGdF4: Yb, Er nanorods, the inset is the variation of PL intensity
图 5. 使用不同含量NaGdF4:Yb,Er纳米棒溶液制备得到的异质结构ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er的形貌
Fig. 5. TEM images of heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4: Yb, Er with different NaGdF4: Yb, Er nanorods concentration
图 6. 异质结构ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er中上转换机理的能级跃迁示意图
Fig. 6. Schematic energy level diagram showing the UC process mechanism of heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4: Yb, Er
More interestingly,it found that the intensity of PL was related to the ratio of NaGdF4:Yb,Er and ZIF-67 as shown in
As can be seen from
3 Conclusions
In summary,the heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er was prepared by a facile stepwise synthesis method,the NaGdF4:Yb,Er nanorods are uniformly loaded on the surface of ZIF-67. And the heterostructure overcame the shortcomings of NaGdF4:Yb,Er nanorods in agglomeration and quench. Under the 980 nm laser excitation,the energy transfer takes place in the heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er. And controllable PL tuning was realized by construction heterostructure the enhanced emission was converted from green light to red light. This strategy greatly enhances the applicability of heterostructure ZIF-67/NaGdF4:Yb,Er,break through the limitation of oil phase system of NaGdF4:Yb,Er nanorods,making it promising for biological imaging,bio-molecular detection and bio-sensor.
[7] JIAO J Q, BELFIORE L. A, SHEN W F., et al. Fabrication and luminescence of KGdF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanoplates and their improving performance for polymer solar cells[J]. Sci. Bull, 2019, 063: 216-218.
Article Outline
刘毅, 焦吉庆, 吕柏泽, 王久兴. 异质结构—NaGdF4:Yb,Er纳米棒负载在金属有机框架上以调节上转换光致发光[J]. 红外与毫米波学报, 2021, 40(2): 166. Yi LIU, Ji-Qing JIAO, Bai-Ze LYU, Jiu-Xing WANG. The heterostructure NaGdF4:Yb,Er nanorods loaded on metal-organic frameworks for tuning upconversion photoluminescence[J]. Journal of Infrared and Millimeter Waves, 2021, 40(2): 166.