The investigation of rare earth-doped nanomaterials in various hosts

• Main Author: Ng, Chun Leen.
• Other Authors: Tan Thatt Yang Timothy
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Materials::Nanostructured materials
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/39372
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This work investigates the synthesis of bifunctional nanomaterials using the doping of paramagnetic GdF3 and GdPO4, and weakly paramagnetic CaYF5 nanoparticles with Yb3+ and Er3+, via a hydrothermal synthesis method. The nanoparticles produced were investigated for fluorescent properties that were both up- and down-converting in nature, while also prepared for further characterisation of their magnetic and structural properties. GdF3 nanoparticles were used as a provider of magnetic properties while Yb3+ and Er3+ ions were used to provide fluorescence. Despite the strong fluorescence that was expected of the Yb3+, Er3+ ions, significant characteristic peaks were not observed from the emission spectra of the CaYF5:(Yb, Er) samples, possibly because of fluorescence quenching due to Ca. A reasonably good degree of fluorescence was observed for the GdF3:(Yb, Er) samples, but not all samples were well dispersed in hexane.