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Supporting data and software for: Low-temperature open-air synthesis of PVP-coated NaYF4:Yb,Er,Mn upconversion nanoparticles with strong red emission

MacKenzie, Lewis1; Àlvarez Ruiz, Diana2; Pal, Robert2

Published Jan 24, 2022 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.qv9s4mwfn

Data files

Jan 24, 2022 version files 467.67 MB

Abstract

Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have unique photonic properties that make them ideally suited for many applications. They are excited by low-energy near-infrared photons and emit at higher energy (typically visible) wavebands. However, synthesis of UCNPs requires either high pressure reaction chambers or inert atmospheres. Combined with the requirements for high-temperatures (200 to 400 °C) and long reaction times (e.g. up to 24 hours), these place barriers to entry for UCNP research, in terms of both financial barriers and knowledge/"know how". These constraints may also limit the scale of UCNP production for end-user applications.

We adapted and further developed a method for producing UCNPs with simple laboratory equipment, i.e. a hot-plate and beakers. No pressure vessel or inert atmosphere is required. The UCNPs produced have a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymer coating, with strong red emission due to Mn2+ co-doping within the UCNP crystal lattice. It was found that UCNPs of composition NaYF4:Yb,Er,Mn  (Yb = 20 mol %, Er = 2 mol%, Mn = 35 mol%) maximised the red emission whilst also minimising the diameter of the UCNPs to 36 ± 15 nm. These combination of optical and physical properties should make these UCNPs ideal for further development and exploitation, particularly for biological applications where red emission can penetrate over a centimetre of tissue.

This dataset and software accompanies the manuscript 'Low-temperature open-air synthesis of PVP-coated NaYF4:Yb,Er,Mn upconversion nanoparticles with strong red emission', which was published in Royal Society Open Science on 19th January 2022. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.211508