Energy transfer from benzoic acid to lanthanide ions in benzoic acid-functionalized lanthanide-doped CaF2 nanoparticles

摘要

The preparation of benzoic acid-functionalized CaF_2:Ln~3+ (Ln = Eu or Tb) nanoparticles and their sensitized luminescence are described in this report. First, to achieve sufficient proof for energy transfer from benzoic acid (BA) to lanthanide ions doped in nanoparticles, we employ Eu~3+ as the microscopic probe and investigate the luminescent spectra of benzoic acid-functionalized CaF2:Eu~3+ (BA-CaF_2:Ln~3+) nanoparticles. Next, to further reveal the difference between sensitized luminescence and common luminescence for Eu~3+ doped in CaF_2 nanoparticles, we study the emission spectra of BA-CaF_2:Ln~3+ nanoparticles excited at 286 nm and 397 nm, respectively. Finally, we analyze and compare the luminescent spectra of BA-CaF_2:Tb~3+ and CaF_2 :Ce~3+, Tb~3+ nanoparticles in detail. Our results indicate that both Eu~3+ and Tb~3+ doped in CaF_2 nanoparticles can be efficiently sensitized through benzoic acid.