Upconversion Luminescence Response of a Single YVO4:Yb, Er Particle.

We present the results of the luminescence response studies of a single YVO4:Yb, Er particle of 1-µm size. Yttrium vanadate nanoparticles are well-known for their low sensitivity to surface quenchers in water solutions which makes them of special interest for biological applications. First, YVO4:Yb, Er nanoparticles (in the size range from 0.05 µm up to 2 µm), using the hydrothermal method, were synthesized. Nanoparticles deposited and dried on a glass surface exhibited bright green upconversion luminescence. By means of an atomic-force microscope, a 60 × 60 µm2 square of a glass surface was cleaned from any noticeable contaminants (more than 10 nm in size) and a single particle of 1-µm size was selected and placed in the middle. Confocal microscopy revealed a significant difference between the collective luminescent response of an ensemble of synthesized nanoparticles (in the form of a dry powder) and that of a single particle. In particular, a pronounced polarization of the upconversion luminescence from a single particle was observed. Luminescence dependences on the laser power are quite different for the single particle and the large ensemble of nanoparticles as well. These facts attest to the notion that upconversion properties of single particles are highly individual. This implies that to use an upconversion particle as a single sensor of the local parameters of a medium, the additional studying and calibration of its individual photophysical properties are essential.

Luminescence Quenching Behavior of Hydrothermally Grown YVO4:Eu3+ Nanophosphor Excited under Low Temperature and Vacuum Ultra Violet Discharge.

The luminescence quenching behavior and energy transfer process in hydrothermally grown Eu3+-doped YVO4 nanophosphors were studied using low temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy. The luminescence efficiency of nanophosphor is dependent on the acidity of its solution media and the post annealing condition after hydrothermal processing. The overall results suggest that the abnormal luminescence behavior of Eu3+-doped nanocrystalline YVO4 under low temperature photoexcitation is due to the incorporated non-radiative hydroxyl groups often encountered in hydrothermal synthesis as well as to the inefficient energy transfer to luminescent ions from vanadate groups.

Determination of Tryptophan Based on Inner Filter Effect of FluorescentYttrium Vanadate: Europium Nanoprobes / 分析化学

Yttrium vanadate:europium nanoprobes (YVO4∶Eu NPs) with good fluorescence properties and water solubility were synthesized by solvent thermal method.Due to the overlapping of the excitation spectrum of YVO4∶Eu NPs and the absorption spectrum of tryptophan, fluorescent internal filter effect (IFE) occurred, in which YVO4∶Eu NPs were the fluorophore and tryptophan was the absorber, leading the fluorescence of YVO4∶Eu NPs was quenched.Therefore, a new method for the determination of tryptophan was established by using fluorescent YVO4∶Eu as nanoprobes based on IFE.Some experimental parameters, such as the adding amount of YVO4∶Eu NPs, pH value of the reacting solution, and reacting time, were investigated.Under the optimum reaction conditions, the linear range of the method was 4.0×10-6-4.0×104 mol/L and the detection limit was 1.0×10-6 mol/L (3σ).The content of tryptophan in the soy sauce was determined with the recovery of 95.2% and 97.3%.This method is simple, rapid, sensitive and accurate.