In this HOT article, Chinese researchers report the synthesis and properties of spherical assemblies of NaYF4 nanocrystals via a facile solution-based method. Their novelty lies in the unique structural geometry of the NaYF4 assemblies attached together along one specific crystalline orientation. The impact of organic additives such as citric acid and polyvinylpyrrolidone on the crystal growth was investigated in detail and a possible formation mechanism is also proposed. This interesting hierarchical structure not only offers a high surface area and easy modification surface, but also provides a new efficient host for doping various lanthanide ions to give strong down- or up-conversion emissions. It is anticipated that these unique assembled NaYF4 nanostructures will serve as biolabels in various biomedical applications.
Read more about these interesting nanostructures for FREE until the 9th December 2011.
Facile synthesis and properties of spherical assemblies of NaYF4 nanocrystals with consistent crystalline orientation
Zhengquan Li, Zeye Wang, Limin Wang and Haisheng Qian
CrystEngComm, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C1CE05827D
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