Simultaneous luminescence modulation and magnetic field detection via magneto-optical response of Eu3+-doped NaGdF4 nanocrystals

Non-agglomerated and uniform Eu3+-doped NaGdF4 nanocrystals were synthesized via a facile one-step precipitation method at room temperature. Under pulsed magnetic fields, the luminescence properties of the as-prepared samples have been recorded and discussed in detail. Particularly, controllable eliminating luminescence of D-5(0)-F-7(0) transition in Eu3+ was achieved during the magneto-optical interaction. Magnetic field assisted cross-relaxation of excited electrons was derived from Zeeman splitting of the higher D-5 energy level, and the magnetic confinement of f electron wave functions was proposed which were responsible for the change in luminescence intensity with a variation of magnetic field strength. The characteristic variation of the emission band under pulsed magnetic fields promises an optical probe for magnetic field detection.