Au nanoparticles embedded inverse opal photonic crystals as substrates for upconversion emission enhancement

Photonic crystals (PCs) with periodic dielectric structures are capable to control the propagation of photons when photon energy is in the region of photonic band gap. The upconversion luminescence (UCL) of nanocrystals coated on the PCs surface can be enhanced by the PCs effects. While surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) is being extensively applied to enhance the UCL properties of nanocrystals. However, the PCs or SPR effect are developed separately for the UCL enhancement. In this work, we present a facile preparation method of the Au NPs embedded inverse opals, which was used as substrates to improve the UCL properties of NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+ NPs. The significant luminescence enhancement of NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+ upconverting NPs was obtained by the coupling between the SPR of Au NPs and PCs effects from Au NPs embedded inverse opals substrates. The finding demonstrated that the Au NPs embedded inverse opals as substrates may be useful for the enhanced UCL of other phosphors, producing novel photonic devices.