Multimodal upconversion CaF2:Mn/Yb/Er/Si nanoparticles

The mesoporous nanocrystalline CaF2:Mn/Yb/Er/Si powder was obtained by pulsed electron beam evaporation (PEBE) method in a vacuum. The specific surface area (SSA) of the nanopowder (NP) reached a value of 296 m(2)/g. The effect of thermal annealing in the air on the structural, textural, thermal, magnetic, and luminescent properties of CaF2:Mn/Yb/Er/Si NPs has been studied. The NPs have demonstrated the dominant RED-NIR upconversion (UC) luminescence under the exposure to the 980-nm laser radiation. The paramagnetic properties of CaF2:Mn/Yb/Er/Si NPs suggest the possibility of their use in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The annealing of NPs in the air has confirmed their high thermal stability in the temperature range from the room temperature (RT) to 400 degrees C. The developed NPs have a potential for the use as a trimodal agent in UC/MR/CT imaging in nanomedicine.