Structural and spectroscopic studies of LaPO4:Ce/Tb@LaPO4@SiO2 nanorods: Synthesis and role of surface coating

Highly fluorescent LaPO4:Ce/Tb@LaPO4@SiO2 (core/shell/Si) nanorods(NRs) were fabricated with an average length 100 nm by co-precipitation process at low temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier transform infrared, optical absorption and photoluminescence spectral techniques were applied to investigate the crystal structure, phase purity, morphology, surface chemistry and optical properties of the as-prepared samples. XRD results confirmed the formation of highly crystalline with single phase, monoclinic type structure. TEM image illustrates the poly-dispersed, narrow size distributed, irregular size rod-shaped nanostructures, with mean diameters of 20 nm and average lengths up to 140 nm. FTIR spectral analysis confirmed the silica surface modification. The comparative emission spectral study shows highest luminescence intensity of core/shell NRs, due to a reduction in nonradiative transition rate. The emission intensity enhancement proves that growing of an inert LaPO4 layer on the surface of luminescent core-NRs was an effective way to suppress surface related quenching mechanism. These well crystalline, highly aqueous soluble along with extraordinary colloidal stability core/shell/Si NRs were extremely suitable material in fluorescent bio-labeling applications. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.