Eu³⁺ Sensitization via Nonradiative Interparticle Energy Transfer Using Inorganic Nanoparticles

Abstract

Phosphors have been used successfully for both research and commercial applications for decades. Eu 3+ -doped materials are especially promising, because of their extremely stable, efficient, and narrow red emission lines. Although these emission properties are ideal for lighting applications, weak absorption in the blue spectral range has until now prevented the use of Eu 3+ -based phosphors in applications based on blue light-emitting diodes.Here, we demonstrate a sensitization mechanism of Eu 3+ based on interparticle Forster resonance energy transfer (IFRET) between lanthanide-doped inorganic nanocrystals (NCs). Compared to co-doping different lanthanides in the same host crystal, IFRET allows an independent choice of host lattices for Eu 3+ and its sensitizer while potentially greatly reducing metal-to-metal charge transfer quenching. We demonstrate IFRET between NCs, resulting in red Eu 3+ emission upon blue excitation at 485 nm using LaPO 4 :Tb/LaPO 4 :Eu and LaPO 4 :Tb/ YVPO 4 :Eu NC mixtures. These findings pave the way toward engineering blue-sensitized line emitters for solid-state lighting applications.

Exciton Up-Conversion by Well-Distributed Carbon Quantum Dots in Luminescent Materials for an Efficient Organic Light-Emitting Diode

“…The nonradiative energy transfer (NRET) between PCBM and the luminescent materials explains the lifetime enhancement at 665 nm [ 33 , 34 , 35 ].…”

Simple one pot synthesis of luminescent europium doped yttrium oxide Y2O3:Eu nanodiscs for phosphor converted warm white LEDs

“…[12][13][14] Weak absorption in the blue spectral range has prevented the use of Eu 3+ phosphors for applications based on blue LEDs until now. 10 Therefore, new approaches for Eu 3+ sensitization were investigated. Via inter-particle Förster resonance energy transfer (IFRET) sensitization between lanthanide-doped nanoparticles was shown recently.…”

“…8 With its low toxicity, Y 2 O 3 :Eu is a promising material system for use in nanobiotechnology and life sciences and does not fall under the ROHS directive. 3 For the next generation of phosphor converted warm white light emitting diodes (pc-WLEDs), nanosized materials 9,10 play an important role. Lower energy consumption, environmental friendliness and high quality warm white light are the challenges of current LED development.…”

Activating Surface Dark Emitters in Lanthanide-Doped Ultrasmall Nanoparticles for Biological Applications Based on Interparticle Energy Transfer

“…Trivalent lanthanide (Ln 3+ ) ion-doped ultrasmall (sub-5 nm) nanoparticles (NPs) usually exhibit unique optical properties that cannot be realized in their larger counterparts, and thus they have received tremendous interest in basic research and diverse applications. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Although recent advances in the synthesis of Ln 3+ -doped NPs have facilitated the preparation of ultrasmall NPs of various host matrixes, most of the previous efforts were primarily focused on the development of Ln 3+ -doped inorganic fluoride NPs, as exemplified by NaYF 4 and NaGdF 4 . [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] In comparison with the inorganic fluorides, inorganic oxide luminescent NPs usually exhibit superior physicochemical performance and thermal stability because of their rigid crystalline environment and higher lattice binding energy, which makes them a highly promising new family of luminescent nanophosphors.…”