Structural design and synthesis of new MOO3-x interlayer bi-functional nanomaterials for enhanced up-conversion luminescence properties

Abstract

A novel imaging materials based on bi-functional Fe3O4@MOO3-x@YF3:Yb/Er nanoparticles (NPs) with strong up-conversion luminescence and magnetic properties was designed and synthesized by inlaying MOO3-x with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and ferromagnetic property in the bi-functional Fe3O4@YF3:Yb/Er NPs. The morphology, structure and properties of Fe3O4@MOO3-x@YF3:Yb/Er NPs are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), photoluminescence (PL) spectra, UV–Vis-NIR spectrophotometer and superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID). It was found that the experimental conditions (reaction temperature, reaction time, the mass ratio of core:shell and oxygen pressure in heat treatment) have a certain effect on the oxygen defect concentration of the MOO3-x interlayer. XRD also showed the crystal structure of Fe3O4, Fe3O4@MOO3-x and Fe3O4@MOO3-x@YF3:Yb/Er NPs. The SEM and TEM results showed that the average grain size of the prepared NPs were 200 nm. The SQUID and PL results showed that the Fe3O4@MOO3-x@YF3:Yb/Er NPs have stronger magnetism (14.3 emu/g) and excellent up-conversion luminescence performance (the emission peak at 525 nm is nearly 20 times higher than the corresponding emission intensity of the Fe3O4@YF3:Yb/Er). The Fe3O4@MOO3-x@YF3:Yb/Er NPs can be easily used to magnetic resonance and fluorescence dual-mode image-guided visual delivery drug and also increase the accurate diagnosis and treatment effect of malignant tumor.