Preventing cation intermixing enables 50% quantum yield in sub-15 nm short-wave infrared-emitting rare-earth based core-shell nanocrystals.

Autor: Arteaga Cardona F; Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany., Jain N; EMAT, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.; NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium., Popescu R; Laboratory for Electron Microscopy, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany., Busko D; Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany., Madirov E; Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany., Arús BA; Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.; Functional Imaging in Surgical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC), Dresden, Germany.; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.; Medizinische Fakultät and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany., Gerthsen D; Laboratory for Electron Microscopy, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany., De Backer A; EMAT, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.; NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium., Bals S; EMAT, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.; NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium., Bruns OT; Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.; Functional Imaging in Surgical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC), Dresden, Germany.; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.; Medizinische Fakultät and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany., Chmyrov A; Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany. andriy.chmyrov@nct-dresden.de.; Functional Imaging in Surgical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC), Dresden, Germany. andriy.chmyrov@nct-dresden.de.; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. andriy.chmyrov@nct-dresden.de.; Medizinische Fakultät and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany. andriy.chmyrov@nct-dresden.de.; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany. andriy.chmyrov@nct-dresden.de., Van Aert S; EMAT, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. sandra.vanaert@uantwerpen.be.; NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. sandra.vanaert@uantwerpen.be., Richards BS; Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany. bryce.richards@kit.edu.; Light Technology Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany. bryce.richards@kit.edu., Hudry D; Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany. damien.hudry@kit.edu.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Nature communications [Nat Commun] 2023 Jul 25; Vol. 14 (1), pp. 4462. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Jul 25.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40031-4
Abstrakt: Short-wave infrared (SWIR) fluorescence could become the new gold standard in optical imaging for biomedical applications due to important advantages such as lack of autofluorescence, weak photon absorption by blood and tissues, and reduced photon scattering coefficient. Therefore, contrary to the visible and NIR regions, tissues become translucent in the SWIR region. Nevertheless, the lack of bright and biocompatible probes is a key challenge that must be overcome to unlock the full potential of SWIR fluorescence. Although rare-earth-based core-shell nanocrystals appeared as promising SWIR probes, they suffer from limited photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). The lack of control over the atomic scale organization of such complex materials is one of the main barriers limiting their optical performance. Here, the growth of either homogeneous (α-NaYF 4 ) or heterogeneous (CaF 2 ) shell domains on optically-active α-NaYF 4 :Yb:Er (with and without Ce 3+ co-doping) core nanocrystals is reported. The atomic scale organization can be controlled by preventing cation intermixing only in heterogeneous core-shell nanocrystals with a dramatic impact on the PLQY. The latter reached 50% at 60 mW/cm 2 ; one of the highest reported PLQY values for sub-15 nm nanocrystals. The most efficient nanocrystals were utilized for in vivo imaging above 1450 nm.
(© 2023. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: