Plasmonic enhanced upconversion luminescence of β-NaYF4: Yb3+/Er3+ with Ag@SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles

Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) are proposed and synthesized to enhance beta-NaYE4:Yb3+/Er3+ luminescence by mixing with beta-NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ in the solution. Luminescence enhancements are found to be dependent on the amount of addition and the silica shell thickness of the Ag@SiO2 NPs. For the same silica shell thickness of Ag@SiO2 NPs, the optimum mass ratio of Ag@SiO2/microcrystals for the enhancement is 1:21500. For different silica shell thickness of Ag@SiO2 NPs, the maximum luminescence enhancement occurs at the silica shell thickness of 8 nm under the condition of optimal mass, an overall enhancement factor of 3.5 fold is obtained. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.