abstract
Surface quenching is the main reason limiting the luminescence performance of Ln(3+)-doped nanocrystals and their practical applications. Although the shell passivation strategy effectively improves the luminescence efficiency, the understanding of the relevant passivation mechanisms remains elusive and contradictory explanations are often proposed. Herein, the context of debates on this topic is reviewed emphasizing that the discordant viewpoints are probably due to the lack of consideration of chemical disorders such as shell inhomogeneity, core-shell element intermixing, and in homogeneous dopant distribution in the crystals. A clear awareness of the extent of these chemical disorders and their deleterious impact on the luminescence properties of the nanocrystals (intensified by the energy migration process) is crucial to avoid misinterpretations of the experimental findings.
keywords
UP-CONVERSION LUMINESCENCE; PHASE-CONTROLLED SYNTHESIS; RADIATIVE DECAY-RATE; RARE-EARTH FLUORIDE; CORE-SHELL; CATION-EXCHANGE; UPCONVERTING NANOPARTICLES; OPTICAL-PROPERTIES; ENERGY MIGRATION; INTERNAL HETEROSTRUCTURE
subject category
Chemistry; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Materials Science
authors
Shi, R; Brites, CDS; Carlos, LD
our authors
Projects
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020)
acknowledgements
This work was developed within the scope of the projects CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (grant nos. UIDB/50011/2020 and UIDP/50011/2020), NanoHeatControl (grant no. POCI-01-0145-FEDER-031469), and Shape of Water (grant no. PTDC/NAN-PRO/3881/2020) financed by Portuguese funds through the FCT/MEC and when appropriate cofinanced by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement.