A new strategy to assemble enhanced magnetic–photoluminescent bifunction into a flexible nanofiber

Abstract

A new type of magnetic–photoluminescent bifunctional [Fe3O4@Y2O3:Eu3+]/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) flexible composite nanofibers were successfully prepared via electrospinning through dispersing Fe3O4@Y2O3:Eu3+ core–shell structured nanoparticles (NPs) into the PVP matrix. The structure, morphology, and properties of the flexible composite nanofibers were investigated by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and fluorescence spectroscopy. The diameter of [Fe3O4@Y2O3:Eu3+]/PVP nanofibers is ca. 128.57 ± 36.72 nm. Fluorescence emission peaks of Eu3+ in both Fe3O4@Y2O3:Eu3+ NPs and [Fe3O4@Y2O3:Eu3+]/PVP nanofibers are observed and assigned to the energy levels transitions of 5D0 → 7F0 (580 nm), 5D0 → 7F1 (533, 586, 592, 599 nm), 5D0 → 7F2 (612 nm), and 5D0 → 7F3 (629 nm) of Eu3+ ions. Compared with Fe3O4/Y2O3:Eu3+/PVP nanofibers, [Fe3O4@Y2O3:Eu3+]/PVP nanofibers possess much stronger luminescence. The as-prepared [Fe3O4@Y2O3:Eu3+]/PVP flexible composite nanofibers simultaneously exhibit excellent magnetism and photoluminescent performance. The intensities of magnetism and luminescence of the composite nanofibers can be simultaneously tuned by adjusting the amount of Fe3O4@Y2O3:Eu3+ NPs introduced into the nanofibers. The high performance [Fe3O4@Y2O3:Eu3+]/PVP flexible composite nanofibers have potential applications in bioimaging, cell separation, and future nanomechanics.