Microscale Self-Assembly of Upconversion Nanoparticles Driven by Block Copolymer.

Qianqian Su,Taotao Ai,Meng-Tao Zhou,Ming-Zhu Zhou,Qiang Sun,Yan Su

doi:10.3389/fchem.2020.00836

Qianqian Su, Taotao Ai + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2020.00836

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Abstract

Lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles can convert low-energy excitation to high-energy emission. The self-assembled upconversion nanoparticles with unique structures have considerable promise in sensors and optical devices due to intriguing properties. However, the assembly of isotropic nanocrystals into anisotropic structures is a fundamental challenge caused by the difficulty in controlling interparticle interactions. Herein, we report a novel approach for the preparation of the chain-like assemblies of upconversion nanoparticles at different scales from nano-scale to micro-scale. The dimension of chain-like assembly can be fine-tuned using various incubation times. Our study observed Y-junction aggregate morphology due to the flexible nature of amphiphilic block copolymer. Furthermore, the prepared nanoparticle assemblies of upconversion nanoparticles with lengths up to several micrometers can serve as novel luminescent nanostructure and offer great opportunities in the fields of optical applications.

Highlights

In the last decade, lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles have been widely studied because of their unique optical properties including narrow emission bandwidth, large Stokes shift, long luminescence lifetime and high photostability (Auzel, 2004; Lu et al, 2013; Bettinelli et al, 2015; Li et al, 2015, 2017; Jalani et al, 2018; Liu et al, 2018; Wang et al, 2018)
We have presented a novel approach for controlling the one-dimensional assemblies of upconversion nanoparticles at different scales from nano-scale to micro-scale
The results revealed time-dependent morphology, producing chain-like and belt-like structures

Summary

Introduction

Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles have been widely studied because of their unique optical properties including narrow emission bandwidth, large Stokes shift, long luminescence lifetime and high photostability (Auzel, 2004; Lu et al, 2013; Bettinelli et al, 2015; Li et al, 2015, 2017; Jalani et al, 2018; Liu et al, 2018; Wang et al, 2018) These nanoparticles have the potential to be used in diverse applications such as biomedicine, data storage, solar energy conversion (Chen et al, 2015, 2019; Tsang et al, 2015; Zhou B. et al, 2015; Qi et al, 2017; Su et al, 2017; Zhu et al, 2017; Chen B. et al, 2018; Chen S. et al, 2018; Gai et al, 2018; Zheng et al, 2018; Ma et al, 2019). Anisotropic upconversion nanoparticle self-assemblies have been rarely reported (Liu X. et al, 2016; Ren et al, 2018; Yuan et al, 2018)

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